City Weekly November 16, 2023 by Copperfield Publishing

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e i c a M n c C t u n e isine t u A

La Costa Mexican Restaurant Sandy offers Mexican food which is 100% authentic of our land, with the flavors and secret ingredients our dishes are prepared each day with the freshness that we love. Don't forget to try the worlds best Carne Asada. We offer Mexican food that blows your mind away. We have mouth watering cocktail as well as best customer service.

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Best of Utah Introduction

DARE TO CARE

ow can you tell when something still matters? Plenty of things linger out of sheer inertia, like Grey’s Anatomy, or Republican control of Utah politics, but that doesn’t mean people still actually care about them. So, as we creep towards the 40th anniversary of Salt Lake City Weekly, and bring another Best of Utah issue to you, what tells us that it all still matters? To put it simply: You tell us. You tell us by your participation, by your eagerness to weigh in about the people, places, businesses, artists, food and more that make Utah amazing. In 2022, 8,337 unique voters sent in a total of 163,758 votes in our various readers’ choice categories; in 2023, those numbers skyrocketed to 21,543 unique voters and nearly 236,000 total votes. Not only does this provide us with a much larger sample size to rely on for our winners, but it tells us that making your voices heard about these awards is something you care enough about to spend time on voting.

In these pages, you’ll find some 550 winners—some of which will tell you how many people love the same things you love, and some of which might guide you to new discoveries that could become new favorites. Like you, we value all the enjoyment and excellence those winners bring to us. But you’ll also find in these pages a testament to you, the voters, who continue to let us know that celebrating the Best of Utah matters. Consider this the write-up for one additional award: Our City Weekly readers and Best of Utah voters are also the best.

—Scott Renshaw Scott Renshaw is City Weekly’s longest-tenured editorial staffer, serving as film critic and arts and entertainment editor since the early aughts. He’s also written the book Happy Place: Living the Disney Parks Life.

OUR ILLUSTRIOUS WORD SLINGERS

Ogden native Emilee Atkinson has spent her life obsessing over music and enjoying writing. Eventually, she decided to combine the two. She’s the current music editor of City Weekly.

A City Weekly contributor since 1992, Katharine Biele is the informed voice behind the paper’s Hits & Misses column. You can catch her working to empower voters and defend democracy alongside the League of Women Voters.

Carolyn Campbell has written for Copperfield Media since the 1980s, where she’s published numerous cover stories for City Weekly, several earning top SPJ awards. She is the author of three nationally published books and 800 magazine articles.

Derek Carlisle not only is City Weekly’s art director but he also penned staff picks for this issue. An artist, illustrator and photographer, see more of his work at derekcarlisledc.wixsite. com/dindesign

Freelance writer Aimee L. Cook has won acclaim for her features appearing in numerous Utah publications, including Devour Utah. Follow her mouthwatering Instagram posts at @gathernoshandsavor

Thomas Crone, a contributing writer to City Weekly, served as the paper’s music editor in early 2022.

Babs De Lay is a full-time broker/ owner of Urban Utah Homes and Estates, a CW columnist, and member of Salt Lake City’s Historic Landmarks Commission. Look for De Lay at Burning Man each year where they work as a staff Guardian at the Temple.

Meet Utah’s first weed journalist. Cole Fullmer is the publisher and managing editor of Salt Baked City— Utah’s first cannabis news and culture magazine.

Lance Gudmundsen joined City Weekly as proofreader after a long career at The Salt Lake Tribune. When he’s not catching typos or attending to bad grammar, he can be found writing a tall tale or two.

Salt Lake native Wes Long has been contributing to City Weekly since 2021. An aspiring historian, Long’s writing focuses on the architectural and cultural connections between past and present.

Erin Moore is a freelance writer and former City Weekly music editor who writes about local arts, culture, dining and nightlife.

Cat Palmer is a local photographer and mixedmedia artist with a studio in The Bogue Foundry. She is a local artist, mom, serious foodie and lover of street art.

John Rasmuson spends his days trying to put the right words in the right order. He wrote a column for City Weekly for 12 years that won awards every now and then when he got the words just right.

Mike Riedel is the scribe behind the Utah Beer Blog. He’s reported on Utah’s craft beer scene for the past 15 years and writes the Beer Nerd column for City Weekly.

Michael Saltas has worn about every hat there is at City Weekly. Annually, he helps to stage the Utah Beer Festival and is a longtime Best of Utah contributor.

Alex Springer has been writing about local food and entertainment for the past decade. His work has appeared in Devour Utah and City Weekly, where he is currently the publication’s resident food dude.

Jason Stevenson is a policy director in Salt Lake City who once wrote for magazines you can still peruse in airport bookstores.

SLC native Megan Wagstaff has more than 16 years’ experience in Utah’s food and beverage industry and loves to write about it.

Born and raised in the Beehive, Kass Wood lives life to the max. Look for her on the trail, penning a thoughtful tale or clinking a glass at a rooftop bar.

Lifelong Utahn Benjamin Wood has worn the mantle of City Weekly’s news editor since 2021. He studied journalism at Utah State University and previously wrote for The Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret News and Entertainment Weekly.

Jerre Wroble is a contributing editor for City Weekly. Lately, she’s edited the Best of Utah editions, including this one, and is now in search of a stout beverage.

STAFF Publisher PETE SALTAS Founder and Executive Editor JOHN SALTAS

Cover illustration by Derek Carlisle BOU Proofreading KATHERINE BAUMANN, LANCE GUDMUNDSEN , KASS WOOD

Contributors BRANDI CHRISTOFFERSON, BRYAN YOUNG Senior Account Executive DOUG KRUITHOF Account Executives KELLY BOYCE, KAYLA DREHER

Art Director DEREK CARLISLE Graphic Artists SOFIA CIFUENTES, CHELSEA NEIDER

Circulation Manager ERIC GRANATO Associate Business Manager PAULA SALTAS

Technical Director BRYAN MANNOS Developer BRYAN BALE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OUTDOORS & RECREATION

THIS IS THE PLACE

33 45 75

MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

GOODS & SERVICES

125

DRINKS

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

WEEKLY CONTENT

155 161 165 166 168 MUSIC

A&E EVENTS BEER NERD

CINEMA

PRIVATE EYE

Salt Lake City Weekly is published every Thursday by Copperfield Publishing Inc. We are an independent publication dedicated to alternative news and news sources, that also serves as a comprehensive entertainment guide. 30,000 copies of Salt Lake City Weekly are available free of charge at more than 1,800 locations along the Wasatch Front. Limit one copy per reader. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased for $1 (Best of Utah and other special issues, $5) payable to Salt Lake City Weekly in advance. No person, without expressed permission of Copperfield Publishing Inc., may take more than one copy of any Salt Lake City Weekly issue. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the written permission of the publisher. Third-class postage paid at Midvale, UT. Delivery might take up to one full week. All rights reserved.

City Weekly is Registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Copperfield Publishing Inc. | John Saltas, City Weekly founder

Phone 801-654-1393 | Email comments@cityweekly.net 175 W. 200 South, Ste. 100,Salt Lake City, UT 84101 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

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DISHES

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City Weekly Best of Utah

Congratulations to the 2023 Hall Of Fame inductees: BALLET WEST

Celebrating 60 years of putting Utah on the map for world-class artistry.

MEDITERRANEAN MARKET & DELI Italian and Greek cheeses, meats, olives—and more—for over five decades!

ROD DECKER

Multiple Best of Utah winner, KUTV 2News broadcast luminary and author. “The” voice.

RUTH’S DINER

The original Ruth lives on forever at this classic, historic canyon eatery.

SHOOTING STAR SALOON

Pouring since the 1800s. Delish burgers came later. So did the St. Bernard.

2023 WE REMEMBER AWARD

THE WASATCH FRONT

Opened in the late ’70s, TWF set the standard for a new club era in Utah, including … windows!

HUMANITARIAN AWARD, HONORING JON M. HUNTSMAN SR.

GAIL MILLER

Utah’s most prominent businesswoman never forgot her roots and is a champion for Utah’s hungry and less fortunate.

2023 PUBLISHER’S CHOICE

HEAVY METAL SHOP

Banging since the 1980s, Kevin Kirk’s music store that could, and still can. Metalheads worldwide know the Heavy Metal Shop logo and wear it proudly.

PREVIOUS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 2022 DICK NOURSE CITY CLUB GRAYWHALE ENTERTAINMENT IAN BRANDT SALT LAKE ROASTING CO. WE REMEMBER - TOM BARBERI PUBLISHER’S CHOICE UINTA BREWING CO. 2021 BLACK DIAMOND CLINT BETTS, SILICON SLOPES EGYPTIAN THEATRE GROVE MKT & DELI KEN SANDERS UTAH ARTS FESTIVAL WASATCH BREWING WE REMEMBER - DEAD GOAT SALOON PUBLISHER’S CHOICE HOG WALLOW PUB 2020 HELL’S BACKBONE GRILL & FARM KRCL 90.9 KYOTO JAPANESE RESTAURANT O’SHUCK’S BAR AND GRILL RANDY’S RECORDS TUSCANY RESTAURANT THE WESTERNER CLUB WE REMEMBER - PORT O’ CALL PUBLISHER’S CHOICE PAT BAGLEY, SL TRIBUNE 2019 DAVID JAMES KILBY COURT WELLER BOOK WORKS ITALIAN VILLAGE LUCKY 13 THE BAYOU WISEGUYS COMEDY CLUB WE REMEMBER - GREEN STREET PUBLISHER’S CHOICE - SQUATTERS 2018 THE PIE BRIGHTON RESORT BLUE PLATE DINER RADIO FROM HELL SHOW RED BUTTE GARDENS SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY WE REMEMBER - ZEPHYR PUBLISHER’S CHOICE SOUND WAREHOUSE 2017 TAKASHI RED IGUANA AREA 51 HOPE WOODSIDE PUBLISHER’S CHOICE - CAPUTO’S

THIS IS THE PLACE READERS’ PICKS

tah’s official state food is the sugar beet; the state snack is Jell-O. For reals! The official state cooking pot is the Dutch oven. Funeral potatoes are no doubt our signature dish. Sounds a little bit quaint and vanilla, right? But “quirky” might be a better word. Utahns are all about outdoor adventure, odd religious customs, comfort food (pastrami burgers, donuts and, of course, fry sauce!) and the art of consuming caffeine cold, or else disguised as hot chocolate. Many of us also have odd fascinations with mommy blogs and survival gear. Yes, we’re a mystery inside an enigma, wrapped in Navajo fry bread: We’re Utahns! Judge us by our shared obsessions in the following section we like to call: “This Is the Place.” And then discover your own crazy cravings.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

RubySnap Fresh Cookies

Game-day delights at RubySnap Fresh Cookies

Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffet

Little America Lucky H Buffet

2. Chuck-A-Rama Buffet 3. Snowbasin Resort

City Cakes & Cafe

Once you say “vegan,” most people expect a bland, tasteless product—but this place is the opposite. For more than a decade, they have impressed customers with scratch-made baked goods that are delicious. Their huge kitchen is on display to showcase their artistry and sheer volume of wonderful treats. Their vegan and gluten-free brownies are made with applesauce, leaving them super-moist even before they are frosted with chocolate, raspberry or vanilla vegan buttercream. 1860 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-359-2239; 7009 S. High Tech Drive, Midvale, 801-572-5500; citycakescafe.com 2. Tulie Bakery 3. BYU Creamery on Ninth

Best Cake Bakery

Tulie Bakery

Walk into Tulie, and you feel peace—there’s just something about the rows of perfectly frosted cakes, sumptuous French pastries and bags of buttery cookies. Maybe that something is the quality you can taste in each cake crumb and smooth slick of buttercream frosting. Whatever it is, Tulie provides richness and luxury in every sweet bite. 863 E. 700 South, SLC, 801-883-9741; 1510 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-410-4217; tuliebakery.com 2. Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop 3. Granite Bakery & Bridal Showcase

2. Chip Cookies 3. Crumbl Cookies

Best Cinnamon Rolls

Best Cupcakes

The Dough Sweet Lady Tooth Fairy While they make cookie dough and dinner bread, the star of this online kitchen is the cinnamon roll, which comes in classic brown sugar as well as other exotic flavors on a rotating menu. The Dough Lady sells frozen packs of homemade goodies to bake at your leisure. You can order and pick them up or find them at select local coffee shops; delivery's also an option. SLC pickup location: 386 N. Redwood Road, Ste. 107, North Salt Lake, doughladyslc.com 2. Sweet V 3. Shirley’s Bakery & Café

Founder Megan Faulkner Brown recalls waking up to the smell of honey and wheat as her mother baked bread every Saturday morning. Just as Brown’s mother infused love into each loaf, Brown creates unique cupcake flavors in her kitchen, adding love to every recipe. A Cupcake Wars winner, Brown and her five locations offer her best-selling fresh strawberry cupcake, cake bites, brownies, cookies, Rice Krispies treats and almost anything sweet you can envision. Multiple locations, thesweettoothfairy.com 2. So Cupcake 3. Cravings—Alisha’s Cupcakes

Best Dinner Roll

Maddox Ranch House

Nearly every sit-down restaurant has their version of pre-meal bread. Usually it’s rolls, so it’s hard to stand out as No. 1, but Maddox has the edge. You know as soon as you’re seated when you’re greeted with the soft, tasty bread morsels that are a perfect precursor to the meal you’re about to have. You may want to come for Maddox’s famous fried chicken, but you’ll stay for the rolls. 1900 S. Hwy. 89, Perry, 435-723-8545, maddoxfinefood.com. 2. The Little America Hotel 3. Kneaders Bakery & Café

Best Dirty Soda Shop

Swig

It’s hard to say whether Utah’s dirty soda scene is more of a mixologist’s mocktail vibe or snow cone-stand-for-adults, but at this stop, you can not only get your fancifully flavored soda fix, but flavored and sparkling waters, plus energy-drink-driven “revivers.” A Salt Lake Valley-exclusive, this is the place to pop in for some personalized pop when you need a pickme-up. Multiple locations, swigdrinks.com 2. Thirst Drinks 3. FiiZ Drinks

Best Family Fun

Hogle Zoo

Thanks to successive reforms, zoos have made notable strides over the years. The best ones no longer foster neglect and shallow gawking, but rather conservation and education. Hogle is a great way to introduce the family to the beautiful creatures that populate this world in a variety of ecosystems. From daily programs and exhibits to playgrounds and a splash pad, everyone will have a full and informative day here. 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC, 801-584-1700, hoglezoo.org 2. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium 3. Topgolf

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Best Brownies

There are a great many cookies in this world, each with its own special flavor. With so many to choose from, sometimes it’s simplest to go with a classic. Thank goodness for RubySnap for supplying us with the “Trudy,” an old-fashioned dessert snack gleaned from a family recipe. Keep a glass of milk nearby! 770 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-834-6111, rubysnap.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Start your day with Lucky H, fuel your noon with Lucky H, and now, end your day on a high note with Lucky H’s dinner buffet. They are turning up the heat in the kitchen and carving out a feast for your senses. All your beloved Little America classics are lined up from primo prime rib to tantalizing turkey. Be sure to save room for some madefrom-scratch desserts. The buffet bell is ringing; make your reservation now! 500 S. Main, SLC, 801-596-5700, saltlake.littleamerica.com/lucky-h-buffet

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THIS IS THE PLACE READERS’ PICKS Best Emergency Preparedness Store

Best Family Fun: Theme Park

If there’s anything good about a swollen military budget, it’s cheap military surplus available for any American, outdoorsy or not. At General Army Navy, you can get everything you need to stay prepared for all things, whether you just like to update a home stash, you live the “van life” or the ex-roommate you don’t speak to anymore took off with your nice tent and camp stove after that chaotic camping trip in college. 4974 S. Redwood Road, SLC, 801-966-5556, generalarmynavy.com

Try looking this good when you’re 137 years old. Generations of Utahns have found out “what fun is” while screaming over the clickety clack of Lagoon’s roller coasters. The park regularly adds fresh attractions, but it still feels unchanged in all the ways that count. Nothing says “it’s summertime” in Utah like blasting off on The Rocket, kissing your sweetie at the top of the Ferris wheel, getting drenched on Rattlesnake Rapids or cooling off in the lazy river. 375 N. Lagoon Drive, Farmington, 801-451-8000, lagoonpark.com

2. Smith & Edwards 3. My Patriot Supply

Best Family Fun: Indoor Attraction

Lagoon Amusement Park

2. Evermore Park 3. Cowabunga Bay WaterPark

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Best Hobby Shop/Gaming Store

It’s hard to pursue an interest in marine biology while living in a landlocked state, but there’s always something new to explore within the aquatic wonderland of the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. From their core exhibits like the enormous penguin research station and the otter habitat to their outdoor playground and seasonal events, there’s always something fun and educational to experience here. 12033 S. Lone Peak Parkway, Draper, 801-355-3474, livingplanetaquarium.org

The pandemic found many of us playing our favorite old board games. But when we wanted to play new ones, we weren’t sure which ones would be fun. GNG’s staff is happy to crack open a game to show how it’s played, or offer a space for you and yours to have a game night at the store. They offer collectible card games, board games, historical games and all the accessories for a fun game night at home. 2148 S. 900 East, Ste. 2, SLC, 801-467-2400, gamenightgames.com

2. Clark Planetarium 3. Natural History Museum of Utah

2. The Nerd Store 3. Hastur Games

Best Eclair

Schmidt’s Pastry Cottage

2. Carol’s Pastry Shop 3. Éclair French Pastry

Game Night Games

Schmidt’s Pastry Cottage chocolate eclair

COURTESY PHOTO

General Army Navy Outdoor

With so many bakeries to choose from across the proverbial beehive, it’s not easy to maintain a top spot on the strength of one’s confections. But Schmidt’s has been in the game for a long time now and, after all these years, their puff pastries still bring the goods. Topped with their signature flower of frosting, their take on the custard-filled dessert is indeed a winner. 5664 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, 801-967-9766; 1133 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, 801-280-7200; schmidtspastry.net

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BEST: • Buyer AND seller agents • Neighborhood experts • Locally owned real estate firm that doesn’t charge you franchise fees!

Babs De Lay, Broker/Owner

www.urbanutah.com | 801.585.8824

Glazed and suffused: Banbury Cross Donuts

CITY WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

THIS IS THE PLACE READERS’ PICKS

Best Glazed Donut

Best Fudge

They cover them with icing. They fill them with jam. They even make fritters and cinnamon rolls. When it comes down to it, though, Banbury rocks the glazed department—and the sooner you discover this for yourself, the better. Handcrafted fresh each day, these sweet treats make for a delectable start to one’s day. Locations in SLC, Centerville and Layton, banburycrossdonut.com

Hatch Family Chocolate is where fudge dreams come true. Using a recipe that’s been passed down for generations, Hatch’s rich and creamy fudge features a unique chocolate flavor. You can choose plain or with walnuts. When you savor their fudge, you’re not just eating dessert—you’re experiencing a sweet Latin beat that’ll make your taste buds dance the cha-cha. 376 E. 8th Ave., Ste. A, SLC, 801-532-4912, hatchfamilychocolates.com

Banbury Cross Donuts

2. Fresh Donuts & Deli 3. Lehi Bakery

Best Missionary-Suit Store

Mr. Mac

2. The Missionary Store 3. Latter Day Suits & Formal Affair

Best Fried Scones

Navajo Hogan

It may be easy to miss, but this South Salt Lake mainstay has been serving delicious frybread since 1989. Large, crisp and puffy, these succulent saucers can be served with cheese, as a dessert of honey butter and cinnamon, or as a component of the traditional Navajo Taco. Unpretentious and filling, the Navajo words shil likan (“it tastes good”) are quite apt here. 447 E. 3300 South, SLC, 801-466-2860 2. Sill’s Café 3. Jeremiah’s Restaurant

2. Chocolate Covered Wagon 3. Homestead Resort

Best Funeral Potatoes

Garage on Beck

For Garage on Beck to win this award after experiencing a devastating fire on Oct. 21 makes it sadly ironic. But owners hope to bring the popular roadhouse back, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed that we will soon be enjoing this Midwestern marvel that’s loaded with creamy, cheesy goodness and the heartiness of hash browns. If you feel inclined, donate to the staff relief fund at gofundme.com/f/ garage-on-beck-fire-relief-fund. 1199 N. Beck St., SLC, 801- 521-3904, garageonbeck.com 2. Tradition 3. Wasatch Brew Pub

Utah’s First Family Nursery

Best Hot Chocolate

Hatch Family Chocolates

For the hot chocolate obsessed, Utah is blessed that Hatch has perfected a drink fit for the gods. Far from the powder mixes used by other purveyors, Hatch’s proprietary process involves steaming a blend of solid chocolates (you can choose milk or dark chocolate), resulting in a rich, creamy, velvety cup of heaven with an ideal texture—not too thick or thin. It can even be made vegan, or frozen, for gosh sakes! 376 E. 8th Ave. Ste. A, SLC, 801-532-4912, hatchfamilychocolates.com 2. Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade 3. Ritual Chocolate

PLANTS • HARDGOODS • SERVICES • TOOLS 9275 S 1300 W | 801-562-5496 GLOVERNURSERY.COM

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With nine Utah locations, Mr. Mac has become intertwined with LDS missionaries. Most are on a tight budget, and Mr. Mac accommodates by offering a package deal—a two-pants suit, a pair of quality shoes, four shirts, three ties and a belt—for only $595. The clothing chain was founded in the early 1960s by Fred MacRay “Mac” Christensen who died in 2019 at age 85. Asked by an interviewer how many missionaries he’d outfitted over six decades, Christensen was genuinely stumped. He’d never kept track. Finally, he smiled: “Only the good ones.” Nine Utah locations, mrmac.com

Hatch Family Chocolates

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THIS IS THE PLACE READERS’ PICKS Best Ice Cream Shop

Normal Ice Cream

Ever since Normal Ice Cream first manifested itself as a chrome airstream van inside Trolley Square, Alexa Norlin and her team have worked wonders in the medium of soft serve. Sophisticated flavors like ube, olive oil and that decadent dulcey dip have become the norm at Normal, and it’s a perfect pit stop for ice cream fans with discerning palates. 169 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-696-4556, normal.club 2. Leatherby’s Family Creamery 3. Monkeywrench

Best Milkshake

Iceberg Drive Inn

2. Nielsen’s Frozen Custard 3. Monkeywrench

Best Ice Cream Sundae

Leatherby’s Family Creamery

Many popular ice cream joints are content to just let their menu stagnate, but Leatherby’s keeps things interesting. Sure, they’ve got some solid favorites like Traci’s Peanut Butter Cup or Amy’s Hot Fudge Brownie, but Leatherby’s is no stranger to adding new sundaes that feature churros and cookie butter to the mix. Whether it’s an old favorite or a new indulgence, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll find something you like at Leatherby’s. Multiple locations, leatherbys.com 2. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream 3. Normal Ice Cream

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant

Nothing appeals to younger diners quite like a mountainous Leatherby’s sundae or a gooey basket of cheese fries. Watching kids of all ages light up as colorful heaps of ice cream, hot fudge, marshmallow and caramel pool on the saucer never really gets old. On top of their kid-friendly menu and wide variety of ice cream sundaes, Leatherby’s casual soda-shop vibes are a welcome sight for visitors of all ages. Multiple locations, leatherbys.com 2. Nielsen’s Frozen Custard 3. Maria’s Méxican Grill

Best Muffin

The Greenery Restaurant at the Rainbow Gardens Center

Eating at The Greenery is an experience in itself: First, you drive up to the gardens center at the mouth of beautiful Ogden Canyon. Then, you enter a greenery-adorned restaurant, one that seems unchanged over time. Everything on the menu is a comfort, but the muffins are not to be missed. You’ll get lost in the sweet, soft pillows that are the famous Mormon Muffins. And they’re served with honey butter! 1875 Valley Drive, Ogden, 801-392-1777, rainbowgardens.com 2. Vosen’s Bread Paradise 3. Red Moose Coffee Co.

Best National Chain Guilty Pleasure: Sandwich

Chick-fil-A

Utah diners tend to go a bit crazy when a new fast-food chain arrives within our borders, but few of them have deserved the hype as much as In-N-Out Burger. No matter where you are in the state–or Western United States, for that matter–a Double Double from In-N-Out is going to make you happy. The quality and consistency you get here are leagues above its fast-food counterparts. Multiple locations, in-n-out.com

Chick-fil-A is as dependable as the clock on your computer. The breading’s texture and amount are as well-distributed as if a grandmother dipped it. The buttery bun is always soft and fresh, and the sauces range from honey mustard to barbecue to Polynesian. Despite numerous controversies and boycott attempts, the 2022 American Customer Satisfaction Index found that Chick-fil-A remained the country’s favorite fast-food chain for the eighth consecutive year. Multiple locations, chick-fil-a.com

2. Five Guys 3. Shake Shack Fashion Place

2. Jersey Mike’s Subs 3 Firehouse Subs Millcreek

Best National Chain Guilty Pleasure: Burger

In-N-Out Burger

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Leatherby’s Family Creamery

Nothing beats a swirl of Normal Ice Cream.

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A local tradition for more than 60 years now, Iceberg built its reputation on burgers and onion rings but, most of all, on its shakes. From grasshopper and Reese’s to black raspberry and pistachio, there are flavors to suit every taste. Thick and towering above the rim, these daunting dairy treats are best enjoyed with others. Multiple locations, icebergdriveinn.com

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Utah’s first 50 plus training facility! Since 1998

Age-Empowered Training That Lasts A Lifetime

Offering Personal, Semi-Private, and Couples Training. 1291 S. 1100 East − 801.467.6554

Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

Best Cream Pie

The soberwave continues to wash over SLC, and now you can get a fine-crafted mocktail in as fine and fancy a setting as any cocktail-drinker. At The Grand America, Laurel Brasserie & Bar offers a variety of inspired zero proof bevs—among them a tamarind ginger spritz, a zingy strawberry and mint shrub and elevated teas and lemonades. 555 S. Main, SLC, 801-258-6708, laurelslc.com

Flake Pie Co. has changed the rules of pie eating. While it used to require buying two or three 9-inch pies to accommodate everyone’s taste, Flake now offers personal-size pies in 4-inch disposable foil tins. Now, everyone can choose a flavor-preference all the time. Flavors loom large in classics like pumpkin and cherry and more innovative ones, such as chocolate meets caramel and cookie dough. 1665 Towne Center Drive, Ste. 3, South Jordan, 385-342-2620; 471 E. St George Blvd., St George, 435-628-2056; flakepie.com

2. Urban Hill 3. Evo Hotel Crown Bar

2. Left Fork Grill 3. Pie Fight

Best Peanut Butter Cookie

Best Meat Pie

Hardly an amateur in this field, RubySnap has concocted a truly delightful take on the peanut butter cookie with the “Penelope.” A mound of moist, buttery goodness partially dipped in milk chocolate, just try not to eat the whole thing. You will discover your self-control to be less robust than originally thought. 770 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-834-6111, rubysnap.com

Though Fillings & Emulsions has made a name for itself through its creative desserts, locals know that their savory meat pies are worthy of the Best of Utah mantle. It’s all about the buttery crust that Chef Diaz and his team have perfected. Come for the jewel-toned macarons, but stay for the savory Cubano meat pie and leave happy. 1475 S. Main, SLC, 385-229-4228; 1980 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, 385-549-1167; fillingsandemulsions.com

Laurel Brasserie & Bar

RubySnap Fresh Cookies

2. Picnic Café 3. Crumbl Cookies

Flake Pie Co.

Fillings & Emulsions

2. Crust Club 3. The Dough Miner

Best Remote Workspace

Publik Coffee Roasters

Publik, the quintessential workspace oasis, is where productivity meets artisanal charm. The coffee shop is a harmony of caffeinated creativity, where the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans harmonizes with the gentle hum of focused minds. Owner Missy Greis believes in planet-over-profit, which we love. With its sleek design, private rooms and spaces (including a large event space), abundant natural light and an ambiance that whispers “genius at work,” Publik is a perfect remote work hangout. Multiple locations, publikcoffee.com 2. Old Cuss Cafe 3. Kiln

Pie Fight Pie Fight’s No. 1 spot on this list is not just a victory for this beloved 9th & 9th neighborhood bakery, but it’s a victory for all of us who want more than a syrupy sweet filling in our pie. The Pie Fight team has popularized nuance and sophistication in their hand pies, and each one is a special exploration of what a dessert can be. 937 E. 900 South, SLC, 385-528-1184, thepiefight.com 2. Pie Party 3. Flake Pie Co.

Pie Fight: Home of the best fruit pies

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THIS IS THE PLACE READERS’ PICKS

Best Fruit Pie

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THIS IS THE PLACE READERS’ PICKS Best Returned Missionary First Stop to Eat

Best Utah Heritage Site

Since 1968, the Purple Turtle has been serving old-fashioned burgers, sandwiches, fish, chicken and ice cream in their uniquely lowkey manner. Often providing a first job for its youthful personnel, this eatery provides an appealingly relaxed atmosphere for those reconnecting with home turf. For the elder or sister seeking their bearings, few things say “welcome home” quite like a testudinal sign in a Tyrian hue. 85 E. State Road, Pleasant Grove, 801-785-2444, purpleturtlediner.com

Taking pains to represent both the role of Latter-day Saint pioneers and the land’s existing Native American residents, This Is the Place attempts to tell the stories of the varied stakeholders in the Utahn experience. While the set pieces will catch the eyes and ears of attendees, it’s the park’s large cast of cosplayers who make history come alive as prospectors, train operators, even pharmacists (who’ll tell you all about 19thcentury diseases). Hey, realism counts! 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC, 801-582-1847, thisistheplace.org

2. The Other Place Restaurant 3. Crown Burgers

Best Social-Media Follow for KidFriendly Activities

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo’s Instagram page is an animal-forward photo stream that’s clever in highlighting upcoming events for kids (and adults, too, such as with events like Brewlights). Hogle’s also good at reminding the community about notable “days” (think: World Gorilla Day and International Red Panda Day), while giving birthday greetings to animal residents. Also on Facebook, X, TikTok and other sites, Hogle’s IG page is truly delightful. Kudos to the social media managers there; you do good. 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC, 801-584-1700, hoglezoo.org, IG: @hoglezoo 2. SLCMoms 3. Utahs Adventure Family

Best Social-Media Momstagram

Jane

2. Utahfunwithkids 3. Salome Andrea

Best Summer Camp

Girl Scouts Camps of Utah

Utah is very lucky to have two fantastic camps (Cloud Rim, off Guardsman Pass, and Trefoil, behind Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon) open to girls of all ages, whereas many other states have closed their camps and have been forced to sell off properties due to increased costs. Cloud Rim is a lake experience by the shore of Brimhall Lake which opened in 1937, and Trefoil is a horsebackriding camp. Both sell out every year. 445 E. 4500 South, Ste. 125, SLC, 801-265-8472, gsutah.org 2. Wheeler Farm 3. Rock Camp SLC

Hokulia Shave Ice A snow cone above all others: Hokulia Shave Ice

2. International Peace Gardens 3. Cove Fort

Best Utah Small Town

Torrey

You could drive past it in a blink, but despite its size, this artsy town of 259 people is home to nonprofit publisher Torrey House Press, art galleries, shops and music festivals like Fort Desolation. Did we mention its proximity to Capitol Reef? Camp at one of Torrey’s charming campsites or hotels, then drive just a few minutes down the road to ancient petroglyphs, hidden-gem hikes and lots of red rock. torreyutah.com 2. Huntsville, Utah 3. Kanab

Best Utah Swear Word

“Mike Lee”

The essence of the “Utah swear” is clear: using words that are not offensive on their face in such a way that you know they represent something truly vulgar. In that sense, the undistinguished gentleman serving as the senior senator from Utah warrants being equated with an obscenity. Thanks to Lee’s cozying up to the treasonous former POTUS and repeatedly stomping all over the principles of the Constitution he claims to hold so dear, his name deserves to be invoked when talking about some motherflipping bullspit. Twitter @BasedMikeLee 2. Heck 3. Frick

Save your Delta SkyMiles and head to the nearest Hokulia for your Hawaiian sno-cone fix. Drench their extra-smooth shave ice in 50 flavors, from cotton candy to strawberry daiquiri, then scoop Farr’s ice cream into the creamy core. Be warned that even the smallest size (“Short Board”) can refuel two people. Sadly, Hokulia is only open between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Multiple locations, hokuliashaveice.com

Best Wedding DJ

2. Bahama Buck’s 3. Icy Mountain

Richie Steadman

The mastermind behind Utah’s Best Wedding DJ is not just a DJ, but a radio producer, actor and self-proclaimed “good times” ambassador. With his eclectic skills and a knack for nimble adaptability, he transforms each event into an unforgettable experience. He’s our maestro of merriment, spinning humor into any unexpected hiccups to keep the party pulsating. With Richie T on the decks, he is not just spinning wedding tunes, he’s spinning love stories. bestdjinutah.com 2. DJ Erockalypse 3. DJ Justin Hollister

Best Wedding Planner

Pierpont Place

We all want that perfect spot for a wedding, and once one is found, the search begins for flowers, food and DJs—even though such DIY efforts often court disaster. With an event as important as a wedding, it’s best to leave it to the pros. Not only does Pierpont Place offer a versatile venue in downtown SLC but their Premier Event Services can plan, design and coordinate events, either at Pierpont Place or offsite locations. 163 W. Pierpont Ave., SLC, 801-200-3113, pierpontplace.com 2. Michelle Leo Events 3. Belle Bodas Events

Best White Bread Sandwich

Village Baker

We all know that wheat bread is better for us in the long run, but we also can’t undervalue the impact that two thick slices of white bread have on a sandwich’s quality. Village Baker’s white bread can be used for each of their signature sandwiches, and its pillowy softness conjures up the healing powers of every after-school sandwich that got us through childhood. Multiple locations, villagebakerfood.com 2. Grove Market and Deli 3. Sweet Hazel & Co.

What Did We Miss? Best City Festival

Taylorsville Dayzz

Local fairs are a great chance to experience big fun on a scale that doesn’t feel intimidating. While readers rallied behind Brigham City Peach Days,

Midvale Harvest Days and even Pleasant Grove’s Strawberry Days, Taylorsville Dayzz garnered the most cheers on the applause meter. For 27 years, Taylorsville has provided a weekend of familyfriendly entertainment, combining a parade, carnival rides, a petting zoo, live music from tribute bands, food booths, fireworks and more. Valley Regional Park, 5135 S. 2700 West, Taylorsville, taylorsvilledayzz.com

Staff Pick

Best Excuse for an Elastic Waistband

Chubby Baker

“Our passion for baking is often fueled by a love of food,” proclaims Chubby Baker’s Insta-worthy website. The City Weekly staff’s passion for their delicately sweet Thai Young Coconut and tantalizingly tart Passionfruit Cheesecake donuts is resulting in a lot more elastic waistbands being sported during press meetings. Pro tip: If it’s your turn to buy, order a baker’s dozen so the crew doesn’t notice one donut missing when you arrive. 317 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-946-4491; 1167 S. State, Orem, 385-226-1669; chubby-baker.com

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Jane Williamson is the Utah mom (as she puts it) whose Insta-feed is a river of selfdeprecating seasonal and topical posts. With more than 550K followers, Jane offers up a jolly satire on Utah moms and the influencer life. Doing flips off her bed and schlepping boxes of products around her house, her physical comedy alone will bring a smile to many a harried Utah mom. Instagram.com/jane

This Is the Place Heritage Park

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Purple Turtle

Best Snow Cone

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READERS’ PICKS

MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS Best Former Utahn

Best Local Podcast

Utah has seen plenty of Utah Jazz players move on to bigger-market stages, and it hasn’t always left a good taste in the fans’ mouths. When Donovan Mitchell was traded to Cleveland, he took to social media to show appreciation local fans, saying “Thank you for the memories and the incredible times.” Jazz fans responded with warm applause when the Cavs visited in January 2023—and with Mitchell heading into a free-agency year, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he weren’t a former Utahn anymore. myway45.com

As back-to-back winners in this category, the women of City Cast SLC continue to establish podcast dominance, pumping out five episodes per week on topics as broad and varied as the city they call home. Listeners can brush up on the latest statewide controversy or get the inside scoop downtown, with City Cast there to make sure things stay by locals, for locals. saltlake.citycast.fm

Donovan Mitchell

Darlene McDonald, Speaker & Author Darlene McDonald, author and political thought leader

2. Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame 3. Lex Scott, former head of local Black Lives Matter

Best Local TV Lifestyle/Talk Show

The power structures in the Beehive State can at times feel so calcified and entrenched that there’s little point in pushing for positive change. But not everyone has the luxury of sitting out those fights. It’s the strong example of tireless advocates like Darlene McDonald, director of the 1Utah Project, who works to ensure the right questions are being asked of the right people, and that minority voices aren’t brushed aside and forgotten. 1utp.org, Twitter @iamdarlenemcd 2. Pamela Atkinson, Homeless Advocate 3. Salt Lake City Justice Court Homeless Court

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Good Things Utah, ABC4

Best Elected Official

The Utah Legislature dislikes many things—alcohol, labor unions, public transportation—but it actively abhors abortion providers and Planned Parenthood. In the Roe days, Utah lawmakers trotted out every trick in the book to make life miserable for Planned Parenthood and its patients. Now that Dobbs has eroded bodily autonomy, lawmakers are seizing their moment. PPAU has stepped up as the last line of defense, fighting in court for every inch of freedom that can be preserved. Visit the website to learn about patient care, education and ways to get involved in fighting for reproductive freedom. ppau.org

After a long period of contention between the Utah Legislature and City Hall, there lately seems to be a more relaxed, less-confrontational climate, perhaps due to the current occupant of the mayor’s chair, Erin Mendenhall. For example, she struck a deal for a bigger cut of property taxes generated by the 16,000-acre inland port. The 42-year-old mayor is seeking a second term, advocating for clean air, green spaces and affordable housing. She’s announced a $100-million fundraising plan to shore up the Ballpark Neighborhood after the Salt Lake Bees move to Daybreak. 451 S. State, 801-535-7704, slc.gov/mayor/staff/mayor-erin-mendenhall

2. Equality Utah 3. Black Lives Matter Utah Chapter

2. U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney 3. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox

Best Columnist

Best FM Radio Show

The purpose of journalists, the old saying goes, “is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” If that’s so, then the Tribune’s Robert Gehrke practices his profession in spades! During the past 20 years, the U of U graduate has caused more than a few anal spasms on Capitol Hill, while covering government and politics. He has a knack for sniffing out political shenanigans (his sources are legion) and exposing them to the sunshine of “truth.” sltrib.com/staff/rgehrke

Back in the ’80s, a milk van painted like a blackand-white spotted cow promoted Ogden’s KJQ new wave radio station. Its morning drive-time show Radio From Hell was “for people who feel like hell in the morning.” The show found a new home in 1993 on KXRK (X96), featuring former KJQ hosts Kerry Jackson and Bill Allred (Gina Barberi joined the duo in 1996). It was mostly talk then (now all talk), with segments like Boner of the Day/Week, TV reviews with Bill Frost and trivia contests like Beat Gina. They’re still going strong 30 years later. KXRK 96.3 FM, X96.com/radio-from-hell

2. Eli McCann, The Salt Lake Tribune 3. Meg Walter, Deseret News

2. RadioWest, KUER 90.1 3. Z104’s Dave & Deb

2. The Place, Fox 13 3. Roots, Race & Culture, PBS Utah

Radio From Hell, X96

Best Mixed-Use Space in Which to Live/Work/Play

The Junction

In addition to not tearing down its historical buildings along 25th Street, Ogden made another positive move for its downtown with The Junction. Anchored by a Megaplex 13 theater and the Salomon Center (housing numerous entertainment and fitness tenants), The Junction’s 20 acres also include a children’s museum, two office buildings, restaurants, a parking garage, and condos and apartments with ground-floor retail space. Walkable and engaging, you often can enjoy open-air musical performances as you stroll by. visitogden.com/neighborhoods/the-junction 2. Farmington Station 3. Maven District

READERS’ PICKS

Planned Parenthood SLC Mayor Erin Association of Utah Mendenhall

Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune

2. Geekshow podcast 3. Cold, a KSL podcast

Best Conservative

U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney

U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney: Utah’s best conservative and best “over the hill” politician

The radicalization of the Republican Party has left few people as isolated as Utah’s Mitt Romney, perhaps the last “traditional” conservative left standing with the Democratic coalition to his left and a hungry pack of rabid hyenas to his right. Justifiably exhausted, Romney is packing up his Senate office and spilling a little tea on his way out the door (his tell-all biography, Romney: A Reckoning, offers a frank account of the dysfunction within today’s Republican Party). romney.senate.gov 2. Former Utah state Rep. Becky Edwards 3. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee

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Best Advocacy Organization

Inquiring minds want to know: Where do you store your soy sauce, what did it take to film Taylor Swift’s The Era’s Tour over the course of three nights in California or even how a woman won $50,000 after getting “a wedgie” on a Disney World waterslide. These topics have captured the fancy of ABC4’s Good Things Utah. The team includes veteran Nicea DeGering, Surae Chinn, Janeen Golightly, Deena Manzanares and Brianne Johnson, giving you a dose of “lite” before you head out to the world. ABC4, weekdays 9-10 a.m., abc4.com/gtu

City Cast SLC

WIKI COMMONS

Best Community Advocate

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Your dog’s home away from home

•Overnight dog boarding •Cageless dog daycare •Dog washing stations 1977 W. North Temple SLC, Ut. 84116 (801)683-3647

596 W. 1500 So. Woods Cross 84087 (801)683-3647

UTAHDOGPARK.COM

READERS’ PICKS

MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS Best Over-the-Hill Politician

Sen. Mitt Romney

In September, Utah’s 76-year-old junior senator announced he’ll not seek reelection in 2024, saying, “Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders.” He’s been broadly praised—and widely condemned—for voting to convict President Trump of abuse of power and inciting an insurrection. Booed off the stage at the state GOP convention, he accepted the 2021 John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award. Romney, the GOP presidential standard-bearer in 2012, made his millions (he’s the fifth richest member of Congress) at private equity giant Bain Capital. A Rolling Stone profile in 2012 compared him to Gordon Gekko of Wall Street, saying their business strategies were “essentially identical.” All the same, most (sane) moderate Republicans and Democrats will salute his tenure in the Senate representing Utah. romney.senate.gov

Utah Sen. Jennifer Plumb

If there’s one thing that’s clear coming back from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that we could use more doctors in government. Too many people (and too many men) in positions of power wrongly consider themselves experts on a medical ecosystem they scarcely understand. Before her election to the Senate, Jennifer Plumb’s advocacy on overdose prevention was a catalyst for change. Now in office, she’s utilized her background, insight and passion to make the facts-first arguments that too often go unheard on Capitol Hill. senate.utah.gov/sen/PLUMBJ

2. Rocky Anderson, former SLC mayor/current candidate 3. Former Utah state Rep. Becky Edwards

Best Radical

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Best Political Controversy

No surprise—unless you’re the Utah Legislature. Planned Parenthood Association of Utah is still around, advocating for women’s health and the right to make their own healthcare decisions. Yes, that means abortion, too. But PPAU is more than that. Their doors are open to all women who seek good medical care and advice, believing that sexual and reproductive rights are basic human rights. For more than 50 years, PPAU has offered women a full range of health care. ppau.org

You gotta hand it to the Utah Department of Transportation for finding a way to spend as much money as possible in order to move as few people to as few locations as possible. If it ever does get built, the gondola to Alta and Snowbird will be the longest in the world. We’ll see if skiers actually use the thing, but everyone else will still be waiting in traffic, staring up at the massive towers and wondering where all that money went. littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov

Little Cottonwood Gondola

2. Equality Utah 3. KRCL 90.9 FM

2. Failure to Deal With Homelessness 3. Sen. Mike Lee’s Election Fraud Texts

Best Piece of Legislation

Best Political Social-Media Influencer

Statewide Full-day Kindergarten

Full-day kindergarten is one of those rare, unambiguously good ideas—it churns out smarter kids, offers flexibility to working parents, enjoys bipartisan support and, if you still don’t like it, is optional. But it can take years for good ideas to pass the Utah Legislature while bad ideas are funded in a day. HB477 finally made it over the goal line in 2023 after relentless pushing by supporters and multiple stalled attempts. Now to lift Utah out of its lowest-in-thenation level on per-student funding. le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0477.html 2. Great Salt Lake Elevation Target (SCR6) 3. Domestic Violence Lethality Amendments (SB117)

Ben Winslow, Fox 13

Who doesn’t love Ben Winslow? Not only is this veteran reporter a favorite of City Weekly readers, but he’s garnered the national Edward R. Murrow award and the Religion Newswriters Association Local TV News Report of the Year. Locally, the Utah Broadcaster’s Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and QSaltLake have recognized him. After 20 years on the job, Winslow still manages to be Utah’s snappiest dresser and best-coifed reporter. Lately, he’s taken on the vagaries of Great Salt Lake in this “pretty, dry state.” fox13now.com/ben-winslow, Twitter @BenWinslow 2. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune 3. Utah Sen. Nate Blouin

Every year, the capital city awaits the Utah Pride Festival—an opportunity to dress as one’s wildest fantasies and enjoy entertainment and camaraderie in ways that defy the image of staid Utah. But beyond celebration, Pride is also a protest, a rally, a march. Seeing members of your community fill the streets is a great unifier. This past September, the Utah Pride Center, which sponsors Pride events, furloughed its staff, and QSaltLake Magazine openly wondered if the nonprofit would weather the storm (but they intend to and are using this time to reorganize). 1380 S. Main, SLC, 801-539-8800, utahpridecenter.org

In Edwin O’Connor’s 1956 novel, The Last Hurrah, Frank Skeffington is the political boss and longtime mayor of an American city (a thinly disguised Boston) running for reelection. It doesn’t end well for His Honor. Enter Ross A. “Rocky” Anderson, former two-term mayor of Salt Lake City. Eight years out of office, he’s launched a vigorous campaign against the popular incumbent. Whereas the fictional Skeffington was a rogue, Anderson, 72, is an unabashed idealist and nationally recognized human-rights activist. During his tenure, he marshaled city resources to ensure the successful 2002 Olympic Winter Games. And he walked off with the title of “Greenest Mayor in America.” Win or lose, he deserves a “hurrah.” rockyanderson.org, rocky4mayor.com 2. Utah state Sen. Nate Blouin 3. Rae Duckworth, Black Lives Matter operating chairperson

Best Radio Station

X96

Sticking well to its moniker as Utah’s Original Alternative station, X96 (aka KXRK 96.3 FM) is a station for anyone who wants something far from boring coming out of their stereo speakers. Classic alt rock hits from the ’80s on up to now are on constant shuffle, satisfying for anyone from any generation who’s ever said, “It’s not just a phase!” to their mom. x96.com 2. KRCL 90.9 FM 3. KUER 90.1 FM

READERS’ PICKS Best Progressive

SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall It requires a careful balancing act to be an effective blue progressive in the bright-red Beehive State. Step too far to the left, and Utah will shut you down. But as a City Council member and now as Salt Lake City mayor, Erin Mendenhall has made friends where it counts, securing meaningful concessions and momentum on housing affordability, transportation, water conservation and even the Utah inland port, which has at least been turned away from the worst versions of itself through Mendenhall’s collaboration and good old-fashioned politicking. erinmendenhall.com 2. Rocky Anderson, former SLC mayor and current mayoral candidate 3. Utah Sen. Nate Blouin

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Best Nonprofit Organization

Utah Pride Rally and March

2. Rally for Roe: Pro-Choice 3. Black Lives Matter

Rocky Anderson

2. Darlene McDonald 3. Utah Sen. Kathleen Riebe

Planned Parenthood Association of Utah

Best Rally

JOHN TAYLOR

Best Up-and-Coming Politician

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965 E 900 S SALT LAKE CITY

The Cozy Cabin Check it out on

…Walk to Brighton Resort + Silver Lake!

This incredible cabin is nestled among the huge pine trees in Brighton, Utah. Winter skiing at Brighton and Solitude resorts. Summer hiking, biking and fishing begin right outside your door. A rustic feel with all the modern amenities. Sleeps up to 8 people

Early & Late Ski Season Specials!

READERS’ PICKS

MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS

Lara Jones has been helping people tell their stories for 30 years, first as a teenage disc jockey, a business reporter, a public radio host and the first civilian public relations director for the Salt Lake City Police Department. She also helped draft the Utah Compact, “a document of universal values on which to base immigration reform and discussions.” Now she’s the executive producer and co-host of RadioACTive, KRCL’s community affairs show that highlights local activists and community builders. Always well-researched, her radio show, airing weeknights at 6 p.m. on KRCL 90.9 FM, tells it like it is. krcl.org/radioactive, X: Auntie Lara @larajones7

2. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune 3. Michael Aaron, QSaltLake Magazine

Best Sports Reporter, all media

Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune

If you’re a Utah Jazz fan, following Andy Larsen on social media isn’t just recommended; it’s practically mandatory. His insightful analysis provides hoops junkies with a great sense for what’s going on in Jazz Nation, and behind-the-scenes looks at players and coaches. But he’s also ready to dig into reporting like the allegations of abusive behavior by University of Utah gymnastics coach Tom Farden, making him the kind of allpurpose sports journalist every town needs. sltrib.com/staff/alarsen 2. Sarah Todd, Deseret News 3. David James, KUTV 2 News

In May, Fox 13’s chief meteorologist Allison Croghan surprised viewers and her co-anchors with a six-month “special” forecast: She’s expecting. The brainy and effervescent Missouri native—who previously was a familiar face on Good Day Utah—graduated from Mississippi State University. Her first professional gig was at a station in Joplin, Missouri, where she covered one of the deadliest tornados in American history. Viewers seeking prognostications— “special” and otherwise—can catch her at 4, 5 and 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. allisoncroghan.com

Best TV News Station

Best radio reporter: Lara Jones, KRCL

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Fox 13 News

Best TV Reporter

Ben Winslow, Fox 13

A perennial winner of this category, Ben Winslow doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet. In March, he hopped on a plane for a 7,000-mile trip to Israel with a state delegation studying water conservation. The avuncular, bearded reporter says he picked up one Israeli word from the tour guide, “Yalla!” … or “Let’s go!” He then filed a comprehensive series of reports on how the Mideast nation has gone from water shortages to surpluses, and lessons Utah can learn. twitter.com/BenWinslow 2. Alex Cabrero, KSL 5 3. Kari Hawker Diaz, KUTV News

Best Social Cause

Shelter and Housing for Homeless People

Where would you go if you had nowhere to go? Would you jump through hoops for a barracks-style bed at an underfunded shelter? Or would you tuck into some dark corner of the city and hope for the best? There’s still plenty of people who think jail is the proper place for the unsheltered, but the conversation is increasingly shifting from “Where do we put people?” to “How do we help people?” While the problem is far from solved, the right questions are finally being asked. Learn more at homelessutah.org 2. Drag Is Not a Crime 3. Protect Trans Youth

Best Utah Athlete

Cameron Rising, Utah Ute

You get a sense for how much of an impression someone has made when they’re not in the spotlight—and the voting for this award took place at a point when it wasn’t clear when University of Utah quarterback Cameron Rising would be available to play again after knee surgery. But Rising certainly made an impression last season, leading the Utes to their second consecutive Rose Bowl with him under center, and leading to optimism for even greater things ahead. utahutes.com 2. Tony Finau, PGA Star 3. Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz

Journalism is fundamentally a team sport, with various newsrooms competing for the best information and the most eyeballs. And to stick with the metaphors, local media in recent years has seen a lot of, shall we say, conference realignment. Throughout all the upheaval, the talented and charismatic team at Fox 13 have kept their eyes on the ball, delivering twice as much news every night and doing it in a way that keeps Utah tuning in and wising up. KSTU-FOX 13, 5020 W. Amelia Earhart Drive, SLC, 801-532-1300, fox13now.com 2. KUTV 2 News 3. KSL 5 TV

Best Utahn

Bill Allred

X96’s Bill Allred has long been “Utah’s most trusted newsman”—as his venerable Radio From Hell co-hosts are quick to remind listeners—and he can now add “Utah’s best person” to his list of bona fides. A decadeslong tenure in local radio means that many City Weekly readers grew up with Allred’s voice in their ears, with that voice offering an intellectual counterpoint to the Utah monoculture, an incisive critique of government and community failures and, no less important, an invitation to laugh your way to work every morning. X96.com/author/bill, X: @rfhbill 2. Becky Edwards, politician 3. Darren Parry, author and former Shoshone NationNorthwestern Band chairman

For everyone except those who voted him into office, Mike Lee wins worst Utahn hands-down. There are even several social media pages —such as Humans Against Mike Lee and Unseat Mike Lee—dedicated to denigrating the senior U.S. senator. The Salt Lake Tribune’s Bryant Schott has dogged the senator to the point that Lee blocked him and ghosts him at every opportunity. Lee has repeatedly offended the LDS church, too, and has barely done anything in the way of helpful legislation. lee.senate.gov, X: @SenMikeLee @BasedMikeLee 2. Natalie Cline, Utah state school board member 3. SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall

Allison Croghan, Fox 13

2. Chase Thomason, KUTV 2 Weather 3. Kevin Eubank, KSL 5 Weather

Most Underreported Utah Event/Story

LDS Church Fined by SEC After Hiding $32 Billion in Shell Companies

The issue of financial transparency is getting harder for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to ignore. Where church leaders could once swat away criticisms as the toothless bark of disgruntled malcontents, they’re now finding their dirty laundry aired out in court, and their wrists slapped (a scant $5 million fine) by federal regulators for scattering their immense wealth through an intentionally byzantine network of affiliated entities. We can only wonder if more “revelations” are to come—so pass the popcorn. cbsnews.com/video/60minutes-2023-05-14 2. Mormon Church’s Blind Eye on Sexual Abuse 3. Lesbian Wins Miss Davis County

READERS’ PICKS Worst Utahn

Sen. Mike Lee

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Now in her seventh year of podcasting, KSL Radio’s Amy Donaldson has the bona fides any reporter would envy. For 28 years, she wore the hat of a print reporter, covering high school sports and the outdoors for the Deseret News, and hosting a prep radio show. Her podcasts—Talking Cold and Voices of Reason—take on a kaleidoscopic range of subjects. In an acclaimed multi-part series, “The Letter,” Donaldson explored the 1996 shooting death of an 18-year-old and the lifealtering aftermath of a letter the murderer wrote to his victim’s mother. kslnewsradio.com/author/amydonaldson

Thirty-two years ago, Mary Nickles walked through the doors of KUTV 2. It’s been an eventful journey. For example, she took a routine mammogram for a series on cancer—and discovered she had a malignant tumor. Cameras followed her through surgery, radiation and chemo … and trips to the wig store! She collected an Emmy in 2012. Now the picture of health, the mother of twins brings experience, poise and good humor to 2 News This Morning from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. kutv.com/contact/people/mary-nickles 2. Nicea DeGering, ABC 4 3. Kelly Chapman, Fox 13

2. Saige Miller, KUER 90.1. FM 3. Jeff Caplan, KSL Radio 102.7 FM

Amy Donaldson, KSL Radio Podcast Host, Producer, Writer

Best Weathercaster

Mary Nickles, KUTV 2News

Lara Jones, KRCL 90.9 FM

Best Print/Digital Reporter

Best TV Anchor

WIKI COMMONS

Best Radio Reporter

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MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS

Best Cultural Program

Black, Bold & Brilliant

So, you thought Utah was a bastion for conservative white people? The Utah Film Center’s series Black, Bold & Brilliant says otherwise. Black Utahns lead discussions and critique films around issues affecting the Black community. The events, however, look to the Black, Afro-Latino, Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQ, and allied communities in Utah. In December, BBB will show Blurring the Color Line, stories of Chinese families in the Black South during Jim Crow. It’s all about opening minds and hearts. utahfilmcenter.org/black-bold-brilliant

Best Investigative Journalist

Adam Herbets, Fox 13

If you have not heard of Adam Herbets, you certainly know his investigations. Herbets started with the Fox Investigates team in 2020 and has been breaking stories ever since. He has won multiple awards including the Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative journalism and nine Emmy Awards. Herbets was the first reporter to cover the search for JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan in Rexburg, Idaho. A successful advocate for veterans, Herbets continues to fight for those who can’t. fox13now.com/adam-herbets, X: @AdamHerbets

Staff Picks

Best City Street Makeover

Green Loop Pop-up Park

Salt Lake’s streets are bonkers wide. There used to be trolleys running down them, but that infrastructure was tossed in favor of car-centric asphalt. Many struggle to even see the problem, which hopefully became clearer with the Green Loop demonstration on 200 East between 300 South and 400 South. Redundant car lanes became a temporary beer garden, performance stage, food truck station, badminton court, inviting people back into what is, fundamentally, public space. And the pop-up is just the beginning; city plans call for a permanent Green Loop that reutilizes the wide streets surrounding downtown. storymaps.arcgis. com/stories/0c901004d6b9421cbec40 510f796b1c1

Gov. Cox’s Welcome of Biden

Christian Lenhart and Cameron Blakely

Best Bridge Builders

When President Biden’s plane touched down in Salt Lake City in August, he was warmly greeted by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox. He and First Lady Abby Cox were the only high-profile Republicans in the welcoming party. Later, the Utah GOP congressional delegation and state legislative leadership shunned the president’s speech at the local Veterans Administration Health Center. Cox went on to say, “I think it’s insane that we are having those conversations. … When the president succeeds, America succeeds.”

Rio Grande Plan’s Christian Lenhart & Cameron Blakely

Best Depictions of Small Lake City

@salt_lego_city on Instagram

Salt Lake initially developed around both sides of the railroad, but a chain of racially charged decisions—from redlining to freeway construction to zoning—inflicted the proverbial 1,000 cuts on the west side. Christian Lenhart and Cameron Blakely’s no-nonsense Rio Grande Plan would tackle the divide head-on by burying freight tracks and FrontRunner tracks, making intra-city travel more feasible and opening new frontiers for public transit that could take scores of cars off the road. Even if Lenhart and Blakeley are shooting for the moon, they’ve helped the rest of us to aim a little higher. riograndeplansaltlakecity.org

Salt Lake City may be getting bigger and bigger, but Philip Sadler has tapped into something special by going small—using Legos to build detailed re-creations of SLC landmarks. His @ salt_lego_city Instagram account has more than 10,000 followers drawn to his depictions of iconic buildings like East High School and the City & County Building, favorite restaurants like Dee’s and Blue Plate Diner (RIP), and quirks and oddities like Gilgal Garden, the Summum pyramid and Fun Time Kidz Kare. We can’t wait to see what he builds next. IG @salt_lego_city

Best Shot in the Arm for Downtown

Outdoor Retailer Is Back

Five years ago, then-Gov. Gary Herbert and his GOP minions learned the hard way that outdoor lovers really care about Mother Nature. That’s when the mammoth, twice-yearly Outdoor Retailer conventions pulled up stakes from Salt Lake City and moved to Denver—mainly because a ham-handed Herbert urged President Trump to rescind federal protections for Bears Ears National Monument. While a few of the big outdoor companies are still staying away, the acrimonious Beehive boycott ended when the Biden administration reinstated, and even enlarged, the boundaries of the sacred ancestral Pueblo lands. outdoorretailer.com

Best Excuse to Stop Driving

300 West Cycle Track

City Weekly has received unconfirmed reports from the international news wire that cyclists are, in fact … people? No, can’t be true. If they were people, they would have homes and jobs and all sorts of material and recreational needs. City infrastructure would have to be updated to improve sidewalks and install protected spaces where these “people” could travel without harming or being harmed by others. No, it’s fake news—think of how much work that would be! In other news: Can you believe these gas prices? 300westslc.com

CW STAFF PICKS

Best Happy Landing

Best Youth Mentor

A familiar presence returned to Sat Lake City’s downtown this year. As of July 1, the 20,000-seat Vivint Arena, home to the Utah Jazz, reverted to the name it bore upon opening in 1991: the Delta Center. When Delta Airlines filed for bankruptcy in 2005, the signage came down, and naming rights went to EnergySolutions, which processes low-level nuclear waste. (Remember the “It glows in the dark” wisecracks?) Vivint Smart Home Arena (a mouthful for stadium announcers) came next. “They say homecomings are sweet,” said the Delta CEO at the renaming ceremony. “Sixteen years later, this is really special.” deltacenter.com

“Look for the helpers,” invited Fred Rogers. Marsha Boyd is one such helper in varied local organizations and as a learning lab aide at Joel P. Jensen Middle School. Since her earliest years serving with such mentors as Alberta Henry (1920-2005), Boyd counsels the young with toughness and humor but always with love and acceptance. She lives for the community; it is better as a result. Joel P. Jensen Middle School, 8105 S. 3200 West, West Jordan, 801-412-2850, joelpjensen.jordandistrict.org

The Return of the Delta Center

Best ‘He Knows It When He Sees It’

Sen. Mike Lee’s Smut Smiting

Last year hadn’t even ended before just-reelected Sen. Mike Lee eagerly unfurled a pair of anti-smut bills with the unlikely monikers of “IODA” and “SCREEN. “The first is the “Internet Obscenity Definition Act’; the second, “Shielding Children’s Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net.” No, we’re not kidding. Sure, minors shouldn’t view hard-core stuff, but Lee’s bills could potentially outlaw all pornography by codifying a “national definition of obscenity.” One legal expert calls Lee’s scheme to appeal to his base “a slippery slope.” Slippery? Enough said.

Marsha Boyd, Learning Lab Aide

Best Insightful Voice on the Salt Lake Scene

Emily Means, City Cast Podcast

Formerly with KUER, KPCW, KCPW and KRCL on the FM dial, Emily Means is now lead producer for City Cast Salt Lake and joins a growing national network of daily podcasts and newsletters. While she started out in chemistry, Means has found a calling in journalism where she works on current affairs, legislative news and all the weird stuff that is Utah these days. saltlake.citycast.fm, X: @Em_Means13

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2. Jessica Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune 3. Wendy Halloran, KUTV 2 News

Best Class Act by a Republican Politician

COLLEEN MEIDT / UTAH PUBLIC RADIO

What Did We Miss?

Best Made-Up Controversy

Book Bans

Forget fascism, climate deterioration, wealth inequality and deepening polarization. No, the real problem in America is books, and the thought that a child might choose to put down TikTok to read something—or so the pearl-clutchers of the interminable library censorship movement would have you believe. No one is surprised that the challenged literature tends to deal with racial and sexual diversity, but swatting down the deluge of baseless complaints is taking a real toll on educators, whose morale could already use a boost. library.usu.edu/news/2023/banned

Best NIMBYs

Speed Bump Opponents on 1300 South

No one loves speed bumps, but a vocal contingent of opponents went overboard trying to preserve their right to drive fast. They said the noise would be unbearable (west-siders by the train tracks would like a word); they said the city should have solicited more input (on a speed bump? Come on); they even got The Salt Lake Tribune to report on the “scandal.” Here’s what they left out: Five people have died on 1300 South in three years, with even more injured. If drivers won’t slow themselves down, the street design will have to make them.

Best Old Standby Bike Lane

300 South

In a world where we’re all focused on the 300 West and 900 South construction, let’s shout out the cyclist’s sturdy standby—300 South. Though parts of it have been temporarily blocked off thanks to oh-soprecious development, this bike lane is still a safe bet to get you downtown and to connect you to other chill lanes, like 200 West (another solid standby).

Best Postponement of the Climate Apocalypse

Utah’s Record Precipitation

One year ago, all of Utah was in a state of drought, with most areas falling somewhere between “severe” and “extreme” conditions. But after the one-two punch of a huge winter and a so-wet-we’re-flooding spring, Utah’s water map now shows most areas completely free of drought or “abnormally dry.” The state still has a ways to go toward sustainability and even with all this new water, the Great Salt Lake won’t just fill itself. So, enjoy the brief respite from an impending catastrophe and then get to work preparing for the next drought, because it’s coming. Learn more at snoflo.org/reservoir/utah

Best Primal Scream

Mom Rage Over Lagoon’s Delayed Primordial Opening

The 300 North Pedestrian Bridge

CW STAFF PICKS Best New East-to-West Connector

This summer, we discovered what it takes to get Utah moms miffed. Long lines at Swig? Nope. Selling out of a favorite Minky Couture blanket? Also no. Turns out, it’s a roller coaster. Between rage over Lagoon’s newest ride, Primordial, failing to open at the beginning of the season and increased ticket prices, Utahns took to social media to complain ... and to KSL-TV’s consumer investigator Matt Gephardt. Search “Get Gephardt Lagoon” on You Tube and Facebook and watch the drama unfold. Spoiler: It’s more entertaining than the new roller coaster itself. youtube.com/watch?v=aHY69zFyrJE

The 300 North Pedestrian Bridge

Best Reality Check

SLC Housing Crisis Leading to School Closures

It would appear that some Salt Lakers need a refresher on where babies come from: parents. If parents can’t afford to live in the city, there won’t be any babies here. And if there aren’t any babies here, before long, there won’t be any school-age children. Without children, schools close—simple as that. Elementary schools are just the canary in the coal mine. Get on board with affordable density or get ready for more closures. slcschools.org/ departments/school-choice/school-openclosed-status

Best Holy Comeback

Holy Cross Hospital

After a 30-year hiatus, Salt Lake Regional Hospital again became Holy Cross Hospital when Catholic-owned CommonSpirit Health acquired five hospitals and more than 35 medical clinics in Utah. The 158-bed facility was founded in 1875 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who sold it to a succession of for-profit owners, ending with Steward Health Care. Tip: If you find yourself visiting the “new” Holy Cross, pop into the 119-year-old Romanesque chapel—a little architectural gem with a white Carrara marble high altar, gold-leaf ceiling frescos … and, of course, stained-glass windows. 1050 E. South Temple, SLC, 801-350-4111, centura.org/location/holy-cross-hospital-salt-lake/hc

For many West High students over the years, the one thing between them and being on time for class has been several tons of freight and steel. On 500 West, a stopped train could mean an hour’s wait—or if one was desperate, hopping through the trains to the other side. Obviously, this is bad. Suffice it to say, the new arching stairs and bridge over the tracks are so needed, and so much safer. 300 N. 500 West, SLC

SLC.GOV

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MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS

Best Unhinged Rallying Cries

State Rep. Trevor Lee Best Walking the Walker and Sen. John Johnson Nelson vs. Biden Voters in Weber and Davis Counties have sent plenty of cuckoo birds to the Utah Legislature, but Layton freshman Rep. Trevor Lee and North Ogden freshman Sen. John Johnson are standouts. Lee uses the megaphone of public office to propagate what corporate media likes to call “racially charged” viewpoints (in one example, he described Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation as a “diversity hire”). Johnson, meanwhile, fancies himself a brave general in the right’s culture war for children’s minds and has taken to book banning and anti-CRT paranoia. The punchline? Johnson chairs the Senate Education Committee, literally setting the agenda for public schools in Utah. X: @VoteTrevorLee, @JohnForUtah

Two presidents wear age differently. On one, it’s an albatross; on the other, it’s a crown. We’re speaking about U.S. president Joe Biden, 80, known to dodge the age issue, and Russell M. Nelson, 99, leader of the 17-million-member LDS church. The perpetually smiling former heart surgeon and church president since 2018 unfortunately took a spill in September, injuring his lower back, forcing him to skip the faith’s recent general conference. Prophet-watchers spotted Nelson with a walker and in a wheelchair—due, he said, to “challenges with my balance.” Otherwise, “my heart is good, my spirit is strong as are my legs … and my brain still works.” No word from Joe, who seems prone to fall victim to gravity himself.

Best Wallet-Folding Trick by a Former 10%er

James Huntsman’s Tithing Lawsuit

The late billionaire philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. once described his son James—one of eight children—as “spirited, fearless and fun-loving.” The 52-year-old film distributor was dead-serious, however, when he filed a suit in a California federal court against the LDS church demanding it return some $5 million in tithing he paid between 1993 and 2017. He’s alleging fraud. The church, he claims, used tithing to bankroll the $1.4-billion City Creek Center in the heart of downtown. Saying the dispute is secular—not a spiritual or a First Amendment issue—a federal appeals court reinstated Huntsman’s suit, which is working its way through the system. A brother of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and grandson of an LDS apostle, Huntsman left the church in 2020.

MEDIA, PEOPLE & POLITICS

What Did We Miss? Best ‘Where the Weird Turn Pro’

Best Urban Waterfront

Best Curated Community

Intermountain Health reportedly has big plans for the former Sears lot on State/ Main streets but until then, the big pit they dug combined with a record winter to form a stagnant reservoir of brackish slurry that charmingly resembles the Great Salt Lake in miniature (it even has an island!). Urbanists like how mixed-use density puts more destinations within walking distance, and now everyone can enjoy a stinky, buggy, seagull-swarmed water feature just steps from downtown. Between 800 South and 900 South at State Street, SLC

The private social club is far from a new concept, encompassing everything from Greek row to the Masonic temple. And while Salt Lakers of a certain age and taste have the Alta Club, those looking for something fresher will find it at Edison House, which combines all the amenities you’d expect (boutique fitness center, four bars and a restaurant) and a few you don’t (rooftop pool) with that ineffable feeling of a home away from home. 335 S. 200 West, SLC, 385-799-7630, edisonhouseslc.com

Skinwalker Ranch

COURTESY PHOTO

Skinwalker Ranch Sears Lake The most scientifically studied paranormal Seagull Preserve hotspot on the planet, Skinwalker Ranch is a 512-acre secure site that has been monitored for decades with armed security and surveillance. This remote location was involved with a Pentagon-funded black budget project studying UFO activity, cattle mutilations, and strange phenomena. Visiting is not encouraged, but it’s now possible to get a Skinwalker Insider membership for $8 a month to learn a lot more about Skinwalker Ranch. Skinwalker Ranch, Gusher, Utah, skinwalker-ranch.com

Edison House

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The Best Hair Salon & Beauty Spa in Salt Lake City CARING G R AT I T U D E GROWTH

569 N 300 W 801-364-3354 1298 S 900 E 801-485-5506 landissalon.com

LOGAN FAST, OWNER

BENJAMIN POWELL, GM

LINDSAY LARSEN

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

READERS’

Best Concert Series

Red Kiln Pottery Gallery: ceramic arts made by 11 Salt Lake City artists

PICKS

Twilight Concert Series

For 36 seasons, the SLC Twilight Concert Series has brought national and worldwide acts to perform alongside local favorites, and each year, delighted fans flock to see who stops by for the series. In 2023, we saw the likes of Lord Huron, Death Cab for Cutie and Soccer Mommy, so it’ll be exciting to see what 2024 holds for one of the longest-running concert series in the state. saltlakearts.org/programs/twilight-concert-series

Best Arts & Crafts Studio

Red Kiln Pottery Gallery

2. Ogden Twilight 3. Red Butte Concert Series

Best All-Ages Concert Venue

You might not realize how expansive the category of “pottery” could be until you step through the door at Red Kiln Gallery. Work by 11 represented artists fills the shelves, from that perfect decorative coffee mug to get as a gift (or for yourself), to something fascinating to hang on the wall. And for those who do the work themselves, you can apply for membership to join the artists’ workspace. 393 E. 1700 South, SLC, 801-695-4945, redkiln.org

Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

The “all-ages” venue can mean many things, including a place for pre-21s to enjoy hip new bands. But it also can mean a great place for the family to enjoy a show, such as the lovely environs of Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre. Sure, the kids might not be nostalgic for acts like Blues Traveler or Boz Skaggs (on the 2023 lineup), but their music appreciation will skyrocket hanging out under the stars with the parents. 2188 E. Red Butte Canyon Road, SLC, 801-585-0556, redbuttegarden.org/concerts 2. USANA Amphitheatre 3. Kilby Court

Best Indoor Concert Venue

The Depot

Urban Arts Gallery

Urban Arts Gallery has always celebrated the idea that art can be hella fun. Its monthly themed group shows often feature engaging themes, like the annual “Heroes and Villains” pop-culture showcase, or “SLC Queer,” a Pride celebration of LGBTQ-themed works. Beyond that, they get the community involved in creation, with regular events including Paint Nights for upcycling used canvases, and the unique date night of Couples Speed Painting. 116 S. Rio Grande St., SLC, 801230-0820, urbanartsgallery.org 2. Utah Cultural Celebration Center 3. The Monarch

Best Arts Nonprofit

Salt Lake Film Society

Those who shrug at the idea of film as “art” might need to expand their horizons. The Salt Lake Film Society exists to support the communal movie-going experience, one that’s not just about box-office results, but about showcasing classic cinema on the big screen. Beyond their flagship theater, SLFS also supports the work of aspiring filmmakers through its MAST program, providing instruction in how to navigate both the creative challenges and practical realities of getting their work out into the world. Broadway Centre Cinemas, 111 E. 300 South, Ste. 99, SLC, 801-321-0310, slfs.org 2. Salt Lake Acting Co. 3. Urban Arts Gallery

Best Classical Music/ Opera Performance

Best Concert of the Past Year

How do you hook a younger audience into the glorious experience of hearing a live orchestra in a state-of-the-art symphony hall? By pairing the performance with a hit movie. Utah Symphony’s “Music Meets Movies” series has been delighting crowds with live accompaniment to cinematic favorites, and they’ve certainly loved experiencing the Star Wars films—because it’s hard to convey the chills you get from hearing John Williams’ iconic opening fanfare played in the same room. Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, SLC, 801-533-5626, utahsymphony.org

It’s hard to narrow down and crown a winner to the best concert of the year, but that’s what the Best of Utah polls are for. Our readers have spoken and dubbed post-punk kings The Cure as the year’s best concert. The Cure stopped by Vivint (now the Delta Center), and just rocked everyone’s faces off. For nearly 50 years, The Cure have blazed trails, set records and become one of the most recognizable names in the punk rock world. Hopefully, we have the honor of hosting them again before any mention of retirement. thecure.com.

2. Rigoletto, Utah Opera Co. 3. Fischer’s Farewell, Mahler, Utah Symphony

2. Post Malone 3. Brandi Carlile

Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert, Utah Symphony

The Cure

Accommodating up to 1,200 concert-goers, The Depot is a unique multi-floor entertainment hotspot nestled in the historic Union Pacific Building at The Gateway. It features a full-service bar, food service, ample parking and arguably the best sound system in town. Countless bands and DJs have graced the stage of The Depot since opening in 2006, so here’s to many more years of performances at the iconic venue. 13 N. 400 West, SLC, 801-456-2800, depotslc.com 2. Abravanel Hall 3. The State Room

Best Outdoor Concert Venue

Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

After a long Utah winter, one of the joys of spring is the release of the concert schedule for Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre, set in the beautiful foothills of the Wasatch Range. As stunning as the venue is for a live show, it’s the reliably great lineup that really catches our attention. They bring a slew of national touring artists, just waiting to be enjoyed with a picnic, a drink and a smile. 2188 E. Red Butte Canyon Road, SLC, 801-585-0556, redbuttegarden.org/concerts 2. USANA Amphitheatre 3. Sandy Amphitheater

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Best Art Gallery

COURTESY PHOTO

2. Art Haus 3. Salt Lake Pottery Studio

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

READERS’

The fabulous Sequoia

PICKS

Best Drag Entertainer

Sequoia

COURTSEY @PRESTONPOWELLPHOTO

Don’t call it a rigged election just because Sequoia served as host for City Weekly’s own Pride Pageant celebration of drag royalty in 2023. Since returning to Utah post-COVID after performing regularly in the NYC drag scene, Sequoia has become a fixture locally, producing shows from Utah County to Ogden and standing out from the crowd both literally (in terms of height) and fabulously (in terms of talent). @theonlysequoia 2. Tamara Knight 3. Tara Lipsyncki

Best Cultural Event

Best Friend of the Arts

With LGBTQ rights under assault from a variety of fronts, the need for a celebration of that community as a whole feels as important as ever. Thousands gather annually each June for the floats, fun and fabulousness of the Utah Pride Parade and its accompanying festival. Unfortunately, the organization sponsoring the festival (Utah Pride Center) has undergone a temporary closure, layoffs and furloughs. It is reorganizing with a new board, leadership and strategic plan, which promises good things for the 2024 festival and parade. Stay tuned. 1380 S. Main, SLC, 801-539-8800, utahpridecenter.org

It might be easier to identify all the ways that Utah Arts Alliance doesn’t support the wide range of arts in Utah. You want a gallery? You’ve got Urban Arts Gallery. You want a full-on festival? You’ve got the annual Urban Arts Festival. You want multimedia support for arts? You’ve got the KUAA community radio station. From a resource database for items arts organizations might need, to the Connect pop-up events for aspiring artists, you’ve got a real friend in UAA. 663 W. 100 South, SLC, SLC Arts Hub: 801-888-9638, utaharts.org

Utah Pride Festival

2. Utah Arts Festival 3. Living Traditions Festival

Best Dance Company

Ballet West

Celebrating its 60th birthday in 2023, the first professional ballet company to exist between Chicago and the West Coast continues to dazzle audiences, with seasons that combine classics like Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty with daring new work in its annual Choreographic Festival. Perhaps most significantly, its beloved seasonal production of Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker has become a family tradition spanning generations, giving young viewers their own chance to fall in love with dance. 52 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-869-6900, balletwest.org 2. Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co. 3. Repertory Dance Theatre

Utah Arts Alliance

2. George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation 3. The Hive Market

Best Haunted House

Fear Factory

Utah loves Halloween, and it really loves its haunted houses. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that when a Utah haunted house nails it, haunted house lovers around the country take notice, as Buzzfeed did in a listicle that ranked Fear Factory as one of the top three haunted houses in the entire United States. The creepy abandonedfactory location is just the beginning of a terrifyingly fun experience. 666 W. 800 South, SLC, fearfactoryslc.com 2. Nightmare on 13th 3. Castle of Chaos Escape Rooms & Haunted House

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

READERS’

PICKS

Best Local Comedian

Craig Sorensen

Bringing all the laughs: comedian Craig Sorensen

It’s not easy to find humor at the intersection of being Mormon, being gay and having a disability, but Craig Sorensen manages to hit a sweet spot of self-deprecating recognition that gives him a unique comedic perspective. Sorensen also demonstrates his versatility by working not just in traditional standup, but as part of the Crowdsourced Comedy improv group, for which he serves as a co-producer. IG @kcraigsorensen COURTESY PHOTO

2. Aaron Woodall 3. Mallory Everton

Best Local Author

Best Local Poet

Writing in fan-favorite genres like fantasy and science fiction—and signing on to complete a beloved series like The Wheel of Time—is bound to gain you a devoted following, if you’re really good at what you do. Sanderson is just that, in addition to being remarkably prolific, with four new novels published in 2023 alone. He’s also classy enough that, when Wired magazine wrote a particularly mean-spirited profile of him in March 2023, he encouraged his fans to just let it go. brandonsanderson.com

It might be enough that Paisley Rekdal herself is one of the state’s most accomplished poets, including serving as the state’s Poet Laureate from 2017-2022. But Rekdal also dedicates herself to preserving and chronicling the history of Utah writers through the Mapping Literary Utah project, demonstrating a devotion to the creative work by so many other literary artists. She deserved praise both for her own work, and for celebrating the traditions of which it is a part. paisleyrekdal.com

Brandon Sanderson

2. Terry Tempest Williams 3. Brandon Mull

Best Local Band

Pixie and the Partygrass Boys

Pixie and the Partygrass Boys are no strangers to the Best of Utah winners list. The group is constantly innovating and delivering satisfying genre-bending music that appeals to a variety of audiences. Their most recent release, The Chicken Coop, Vol. 1, is an incredible collection that is perfect for newbies and longtime fans alike. Give them a listen and keep an eye out for live shows—you won’t want to miss them. pixieandthepartygrassboys.com 2. The Backseat Lovers 3. Talia Keys and The Love

Paisley Rekdal

2. RJ Walker 3. Wynter Storm

Best Local Stage Actor

Deena Manzanares

She has been a familiar face in Utah for years, including her regular gig on ABC 4’s Good Things Utah, but acting for live audiences is still a part of Manzanares’ life. This year, she took on the role of the evil queen in Sting & Honey’s production of Snow White, bringing her wickedly effective talents to bear, and once again delighting our readers. IG @deena_marie 2. April Fossen 3. Doug Irey

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

READERS’

PICKS Best Muralist

Evan Jed Memmott

COURTESY PHOTO

“Nothing Lasts” proclaims a work Evan Jed Memmott created for the South Salt Lake Mural Fest in 2019, a representation of a personal mantra accepting the transitory nature of things. But we think it’s fair to say that the artist’s vibrantly colorful pieces contradict that notion a bit, as they cover walls throughout the valley with exciting, peculiarly Utah images that are bound to stick with you. 2285 S. Main, South Salt Lake, evanjed.com 2. Shae Petersen aka Sril 3. Josh Scheuerman

Best Music Festival

It’s been a rough stretch for theatrical moviegoing post-COVID, but Salt Lake Film Society keeps fighting the good fight, providing a place (Broadway Centre Cinemas) that dares to argue that even documentaries, independent dramas and non-English language films have a place on the big screen. Plus, they keep providing fun ways for audiences to enjoy classic cinema, such as the “Summer Showdown” and Halloween season’s nowtraditional “Tower of Terror.” True lovers of film know they’re not just for streaming on your computer. 111 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-321-0310, slfs.org

Kilby Block Party has taken on a life of its own. The festival continues to grow bigger and bigger each year, with more concertgoers flocking to SLC to enjoy the insanely stacked lineups. KBP 2023 featured acts like The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pixies and many more. Not even a massive storm could stop the Block Party this year, held at the Utah State Fairpark, and next year is sure to be just as eventful. kilbyblockparty.com

Broadway Centre Cinemas Kilby Block Party

2. Brewvies Cinema Pub 3. Tower Theatre

Best Museum

Natural History Museum of Utah

2. Loveloud 3. Das Energi

Best Musical Instrument Store

Summerhays Music Center

Even from a distance, it’s impressive, with the copper-trimmed exterior shining in the sunlight in the foothills. Step inside, and you get a fantastic experience of hands-on exhibits devoted to Utah’s own unique history, from dinosaurs to ancient indigenous peoples to modern ecosystems like the Great Salt Lake. Touring exhibitions supplement the permanent collection to delight and educate visitors of all ages. 301 Wakara Way, SLC, 801-581-6927, nhmu.utah.edu

Having a trusted place to buy and have your musical instruments repaired is something that can easily be taken for granted. Whether your precious instrument needs a crucial repair, or if you are in search of a quick string replacement, Summerhays is the place to go. If you’re in the market for a new instrument, you can buy or rent, or just stop in to browse. 5420 S. Green St., Murray, 801-268-4446, summerhaysmusic.com

2. Utah Museum of Fine Arts 3. Clark Planetarium

2. Guitar Czar 3. Acoustic Music

Best Neighborhood Concerts

9th & 9th Book and Music Free Community Concert Series

Concerts are already a blast, but when you make them free, they instantly become a thousand times more fun—it’s scientifically proven. Costs aside, it’s great to get out and bump elbows with your fellow community members and support local artists. It’s an added bonus that you can do shopping for books, guitars, records and other artsrelated products. Head out to enjoy good tunes and say hi to fellow lovers of the arts. 962 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-739-1159, 9thand9thbookandmusic.com 2. Mondays in the Park, Liberty Park 3. Heart & Soul Music Stroll, Sugar House

Best Neighborhood Gathering

999 Bike Ride

In an ideal world, there’d be nothing notable about the 999—our streets would be filled with a blend of neighbors and visitors, navigating the city primarily under their own power and with the comfort and safety to freely explore or to stay put and hang for a spell. Until that ideal world arrives, we at least have the 999, which takes the empty parking lots, dark underpasses and forgotten corners of Salt Lake and, every Thursday at 9 p.m., after gathering at 9th & 9th, transforms them into the hottest party in town, open to all. facebook.com/999ride 2. Avenues Street Fair 3. Chalk Art Festival Bountiful

Best Paint Night

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo’s Paint Night isn’t just a Canvas and Brush affair; it’s a wild masterpiece waiting to happen! Surrounded by the enchanting beauty of nature, you’ll channel your inner Picasso. No experience needed; the Paint Night at Hogle Zoo welcomes adult artists of all stripes, from beginners to seasoned pros, and you’ll be guided step by step. All materials needed are provided. Sign up for a roarin’ good time and let your imagination run wild. 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC, 801-584-1700, hoglezoo.org 2. The Local Artisan Collective 3. What’s Ya Vibe Hip Hop Paint Night @ Scion Cider Bar

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Best Movie Theater

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READERS’

PICKS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Best Potter/Ceramicist

Best Theater Company

Randi Lile

Salt Lake Acting Co.

Ceramic work can take many different forms, from functional pots and vases to elaborately abstract work. Randi Lile found her distinctive artistic calling in ceramic sculptures of sea life—and while it’s far from the only kind of work she does, it’s hard to resist the fanciful works that are sometimes a little creepy, sometimes charming, but always characterized by bold colors and brilliant glazing. 801-815-4538, randilile.com 2. Ben Behunin 3. Min Oh, TinyFish Production

Best Singer-Songwriter

For more than 50 years, Salt Lake Acting Co. has been a place where the essence of daring theater is celebrated, bringing in local premieres of Broadway award-winners, new works by local playwrights and other fresh voices. And while the name of the annual summer production has changed (it’s now the SLAC Summer Show), it’s one of the best opportunities to look at the craziness of Utah life, and emerge with a smile on your face and a song on your lips. 168 W. 500 North, SLC, 801-363-7522, saltlakeactingcompany.org 2. Hale Centre Theatre 3. Utah Shakespeare Festival

COURTESY SLAC / @TODDCOLLINSPHOTOS

Tyler Glenn, Neon Trees

We do love it when locals make good, and Utah has certainly embraced Neon Trees and frontman Tyler Glenn, particularly as he shared his personal story of coming out and leaving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That personal connection comes through, whether as part of the band, or in his solo album Excommunication. It’s a thrill to have new music for a new 2024 album coming our way. IG @tylerinacoma, IG @official_neontrees 2. Michelle Moonshine 3. April Kerr

Best Urban Public Art

“Out of the Blue,” aka “The Whale” by Stephen Kesler

While it can’t be proven that Salt Lake City’s embrace of the “sacred” whale is responsible for our record-breaking winter snowfall and much-needed spring rains … it can’t be disproven either. In a short time, The Whale has evolved from a controversial proposal to a curious attraction to, now, an intrinsic part of the 9th & 9th neighborhood, with its own tongue-in-cheek (mostly) religion and marathon route. Build the tail on 9th & 9th West! All hail The Whale! 900 S. 1100 East, SLC, saltlakepublicart.org/art/out-of-the-blue 2. Salt Lake City Police Brutality Murals 3. South Salt Lake Muralfest

Best Visual Artist

Cat Palmer

It’s clear that we at City Weekly dig Cat Palmer based on her regular contributions to these pages as a writer, but our readers also know that she’s a remarkable talent as a visual artist. Her photography runs the gamut from commercial work like wedding and family photos to some of the most iconic images of our city and its people, including the legendary “Last Supper” of local badasses. She’s earned her own place among them. catpalmer.com 2. Justin Wheatley 3. Andrew Alba

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CW STAFF

Kate Kilpatrick, owner of Kilpatrick Art Garage in Helper

PICKS Best New Gallery on the Block ... in Helper

What Did We Miss? Best at Naughty and Nice

Hot! Take Burlesque

This burlesque troupe—which includes burlesque dancers from all around the Salt Lake area—is so good at their craft that they can apply their scintillating dance moves to any theme. If you want a night of performance completely set to BTS tunes? They’ve got a performance or five for that. Recently, they’ve put on variety shows honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, participating in Pride events and playing with themes like the recent Barbie craze. facebook.com/hottakeburlesque

Kilpatrick Art Garage

Best Draper Dance Studio

The Moxy Movement

In 2016, Angela Nelson and Sarah Child began creating a space and community for adults to explore their physical potential and build self-confidence through movement. Their search ended when they found The Old School located in historic Draper. With currently nine instructors, Moxy Movement features lessons in a variety of dances in two studios: their pole dance studio and aerial and dance studio. 12441 S. 900 East, Stes. 105 and 205, Draper, 801-999-8630, moxymovement.com

Kate Kilpatrick’s new gallery in Helper is a dream come true, adding to Helper’s draw as a destination for the arts. It has a garage grunge feel to it mixed with a fun, hip vibe. Kilpatrick says, “I create these works to express my curiosity and reverence of what has gone on before. I am drawn to the richness of life imbued in both events and items those events create.” 80 S. Main, Helper, 801-712-7611, kilpatrickvintagecarart.com

Best Art Wonders

In the film Return to Oz, Dorothy visits the Gnome King’s Ornament Room, a mysterious chamber of magical objets d’art. Such a sequence enters our minds upon any trip to Anthony’s, a family-run fine art and antiques establishment that has graced the Salt Lake landscape for more than three decades. In this stately jewel, you can find early Utah art and original paintings, sculptures and works on paper by American and European artists created across the centuries. 401 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-328-2231, anthonysfineart.com

Best Baring of One’s Artistic Soul

Andrew Alba

Gifted in multiple formats such as painting, sculpture and drawing, local artist Andrew Alba has exhibited many striking and personal works drawn from his life and heritage. Whether providing his unique comment upon broad social issues or reflecting memories from his Mexican background, Alba’s works are intimate, direct, and always himself. Painted or constructed, they tell stories that could not be heard in any other way. andrew-alba.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Mystery Escape Room

Best DIY Gettin’ Crafty Classes

Craft Lake City

It’s understandable if folks know Craft Lake City best for its namesake annual summer DIY Festival, but the organization doesn’t just showcase people at their crafty best; it also helps create them. Throughout the year, Craft Lake City sponsors classes in a wide range of creative endeavors, helping folks learn skills like tote-bag decorating, lantern painting, food preparation and more, plus online STEM workshops for kids. 230 S. 500 West, Ste 125, SLC, 801-906 – 8521, craftlakecity.com

Best Creative Stampede

Tooele’s Beautiful Bison

Salt Lake may have a breaching whale, but Tooele is where the bison roam. Like many Western towns, Tooele has begun a campaign of bison installations throughout the downtown area, including at the Pioneer Museum, Main Street, the Veteran’s Park and more. Painted by local artists, each bison has been adopted/sponsored by local businesses. Seven out of 10 have been placed so far. Tooele Downtown Alliance, tooelecity. gov/services/economic_development/ downtown_alliance.php

Best Live Theater Fan Club

Utah Theater Lovers

Ever longed to see a flamboyant musical or somber theatrical production but couldn’t round up a show date? Take heart, there’s an instant group of theater buddies you can join, one that attends monthly performances around town. Enjoy a preor post-show meal or beverage, headed up by the brilliant herder of cats, Megan Gutierrez. This group also travels out of town to see shows, even to New York City, Boston, London and Edinburgh! Join on facebook.com/groups/utahtheaterlovers or at meetup.com/theaterlovers

Best Recently Discovered Artist Community

Bogue Foundry

A veritable beehive of creative spaces, the historic Bogue Foundry emits a hip Brooklyn vibe. Here, you’ll find resident artist studios of Sue Martin, Steve Creson, Nancy Vorm, Lisa Hubbert, Lewis J. Crawford, Fern & Reed, Cat Palmer, Anna Hansen of The Hex Press and Anita Albright. Saltgrass Printmakers, which just celebrated 20 years, is also part of this mixed artistic community, as is Circa Salon, Modern West Fine Art and Kings Peak Coffee Roasters. A true hidden gem! 412 S. 700 West, SLC, boguefoundry.com

If solving real life puzzles and problems is your forté, then you’ll be in hot demand at the Mystery Escape Room. Originating at The Gateway, MER has since expanded to cities throughout the valley. Here, groups of people try to solve a mystery and tackle puzzles to escape a locked room in an hour or less. Each room’s theme changes throughout the year, so even if you think you know the solution from a previous visit, next time you go, you’ll probably be stumped all over again. 130 S. Rio Grande St., SLC, 385-322-2583, mysteryescaperoom.com

Best Locally Curated Immersive Art

Dreamscapes

“Art” can be a complex word to define, but it’s easy to agree on the idea that it’s a process born of imagination. The fantastical worlds of Utah Arts Alliance’s Dreamscapes are the product of more than 100 artists and artisans, creating spaces that combine physical and digital works into landscapes that might inspire another generation of artists. That the works are created from upcycled and reclaimed materials makes it even more remarkable. 10450 S. State, Ste. 2200, Sandy, 801-637-5155, utaharts.org/en/dreamscapes

Best Musical Performed in Utah

Shucked, Pioneer Theatre Co.

It’s not exactly a common occurrence for Salt Lake City to get a chance to see a Broadway hit before it even gets a chance to go to Broadway. But thanks to a preview run at Pioneer Theatre Co., local audiences were treated to the hilarious, ear-wormy delights of the cornpone musical Shucked, which subsequently became a nominee for nine Tony Awards, including an acting win for Alex Newell. University of Utah, 300 S. 1400 East, Ste. 325, SLC, 801-581-6961, pioneertheatre.org

Best Stained-Glass Art

‘Roots of Knowledge’ at UVU

Stained-glass art sometimes seems like the most amazing creative accomplishment, finding illuminated beauty in a fragile medium. Utah Valley University is the home of “Roots of Knowledge,” a stained-glass mural created by the artists at Holdman Studios over the course of nearly four years, and unveiled in 2016. This display looks at the human pursuit of learning, spanning 80 panels and 154 feet—a remarkable celebration of knowledge itself in a unique form. Fulton Library, 800 W. University Parkway, Orem, 801-863-7172, uvu.edu/rootsofknowledge

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Anthony’s Antiques and Fine Art

Best Immersive Adventures

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Hillside Veterinary Hospital

Most of us consider our pets as family, and patrons of this hospital rave about the care their “family members” receive. “My dogs absolutely love it here and are crazy excited to see that we’re pulling into the parking lot,” wrote one reviewer. They offer puppy training, doggy day camp to help stop leash pulling and learn “come” and “heel” commands as well as full-service wellness exams, vaccinations, dentistry, labs, surgery and online pharmacy. 7054 S. 2300 East, Cottonwood Heights, 801-943-2154, hillsidevet.com 2. University Veterinary Hospital & Diagnostic Center 3. VCA Cottonwood Animal Hospital

Best Animal Shelter/Rescue

Best Friends Animal Society

2. Humane Society of Utah 3. Community Animal Welfare Society—CAWS

Best Antiques

Capital City Antique Mall

Antique stores used to be common along the Wasatch Front, but with the high costs of rent and taxes, many have closed, or the owners have passed on or moved on. This mall, next to Publik Coffee, offers booths to rent to different vendors. You could spend an entire day going back in time browsing toys, jewelry, clothes, movie and television artifacts. You can also take in items that the owner may purchase on Thursdays. 959 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-521-7207, capitalcityantiquemall.com 2. The Village Vintage Interiors 3. Euro Treasures Antiques

Chinatown Supermarket

Best Alterations, Apparel

Sue’s Alteration

Part of a wonderland of complementary retail and restaurants, Chinatown Supermarket stands as the huge flagship of the zone, a 30,000-square-foot blend of Asian culinary staples and delicacies you may have never seen before. From live seafood to fresh produce from around the world to plastic-encased treats that are new to you, the store’s a fantastic place to wander and fill your cart with unexpected options, as well as any items you were specifically seeking out on arrival. 3390 S. State, Ste. 11, SLC, 801-906-8788, saltlakechinatown.com 2. Ocean Mart 3. Japan-Sage Market

Best DUI Attorney

Ed Brass

A dozen years ago, an uber-powerful Republican member of the Utah Senate was arrested for driving under the influence. Among his first calls was to criminal defense attorney Ed Brass. No, Brass didn’t get him off. And yes, the senator resigned. But when the local movers and shakers find themselves in a legal pickle, Brass is often their go-to guy. Over a 36-year career, he has tried between 200 and 300 jury trials in every county in Utah with an impressive acquittal rate. 8160 S. Highland Drive, SLC, 801-322-5678, edbrasslaw.com 2. Tyler Ayres, Ayres Law Firm PC 3. Jonathan G. Jemming, Jemming Law LLC

Best Immigration Attorney

Orlando Luna—Oluna Law PLLC

Spanish-speaking attorney Luna works in family and civil law but also specializes in immigration law. His website offers great information about how an immigration attorney can help you, what to do if you’re stopped by the police and myriad useful blogs. It costs nada to consult with him, and you can either call or go onto his website to leave a message about the advice you need for your legal issues. 1750 W. Research Way, Ste. 103, SLC, 801-770-4670, +48010579790, orlandolunalaw.com 2. The Law Office of Isabel Cueva 3. Steven Lawrence Jr., Utah Immigration Attorneys

Very few people these days know how to put in a zipper, let out a seam or hem pants. It’s easier to just donate the item to charity and buy something new. Sue Song offers quality tailoring and alterations to clients around the world and prides herself in having “fulfilled hundreds of thousands of memories” for her clients and customers. Altering clothes and reusing them is the ultimate example of helping the environment and not discarding useful materials into our landfills. 1441 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801-800-0141, suesalteration.com 2. Leone’s Custom-Made, Tailor & Dry Cleaning 3. A La Mode SLC

Best Personal Injury Attorney

Law Office of Jacob Jensen

It’s wise when hiring an attorney that you find a specialist with great reviews. Jensen’s firm gets rave reviews for helping people by advising them on their legal rights after an injury in a car accident. He is bilingual in Spanish after serving a mission in Honduras and has a great team of clerks and lawyers to tackle any case. 6629 S. 1300 East, SLC, 801-996-8662, jacobjensenlaw.com 2. Aaron Wilde, Wilde Law 3. Steele Adams Hosman

Sue’s Alteration: for the perfect fit

Best ATV /ORV Store

Best Auto Dealership

With Utah boasting some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, residents love exploring every nook and cranny of that beauty via an ATV or ORV. Young sells (and services) new and used powersports products and accessories. The Young Powersports group now includes seven dealerships in northern Utah and Idaho. The newly opened Centerville location is the largest dealership of its kind in Utah, selling machines, parts and accessories for a dozen well-known brands. Quads, side-by-sides, bikes and trikes, get your mud on! 547 S. Frontage Road, Centerville, 801-486-5401, youngpowersportsxl.com

Not your normal car dealership, Mark Miller Subaru is known for its positive impacts on the community, which it does by supporting causes that matter. Sure, car sales and service of a great product are important, but Mark Miller’s ethos and seven pillars are unique: earth, help, pets, learning, care, veterans and diversity. Whether you’re buying new or used or leasing, the Mark Miller staff gets rave reviews for kindness and passion. 3535 S. State, South Salt Lake, 385-501-3366, markmillersubarumidtown.com; 10920 S. State, Sandy, 385-348-5637, markmillersubarusouthtowne.com

Young Powersports XL

2. Tooele Valley Motorsports 3. Jorgensen Sporting Goods, Richfield

Mark Miller Subaru

2. Nate Wade Subaru 3. Young Subaru

CITYWEEKLY.NET | BEST OF UTAH 2023 | 45

Founded in 1993 as a nonprofit animal welfare organization based in Kanab, Best Friends now has satellite offices in Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, California, New York and Salt Lake City (at 2005 S. 1100 East, 801574-2454). Partnering with shelters in all 50 states to promote pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue and spay and neuter practices, Best Friends’ sanctuary in Southern Utah (on 3,700 acres) shelters around 1,500 homeless animals and saves millions of animals every year in placements around the world. Multiple locations, bestfriends.org

READERS’ PICKS

Best Asian Market

COURTESY PHOTO

Best Animal Hospital

GOODS & SERVICES

Inspiring

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Body & Mind 20 2 2

GOODS & SERVICES

READERS’

PICKS Best Barbershop

Love for your locks: Savant Deux Barbershop

Founded seven years ago in a competitive marketplace, Savant Deux Barbershop now has three locations. And there must be magic in those chairs, because the rave reviews from clients are endless. Anyone out of cosmetology school can cut hair, but creating a terrific fade or dying hair rainbow colors for Pride takes talent. Plus, they offer student discounts, and several stylists speak Spanish. Locations in Magna, Millcreek and Bountiful, savantbarbershop.com 2. Jed’s Barber Shop 3. The Salt Lake Barber Co.

Best Bicycle Repair Shop

Best Bookstore

Give a person a fish—feed them for a day. Teach that person to tune their own bicycle—they will ride for a lifetime. With four locations in Utah, the Bicycle Collective’s DIY bike shop is where folks can learn their way around a frame with the pros or where members with know-how can tune and get themselves back on the road. Note that Monday nights are set aside as Women, Trans, Femme (WTF). In SLC, keep an eye out for the Collective’s impressive new digs on the 9-Line Trail. 325 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-328-2453, bicyclecollective.org

A longtime favorite with our readers and staff, this cozy retreat is a book lover’s paradise. With an extensive selection and now with additional spaces at the Neighborhood Hive and Salt Lake City International Airport, TKE is a welcome refutation of the claim that no one reads anymore. Best of all, it hosts a variety of community events that are more essential now than ever before. 1511 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-484-9100, kingsenglish.com

Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective

Best Bicycle Shop

Bingham Cyclery

The King’s English Bookshop

2. Marissa’s Books 3. Under the Umbrella Bookstore

Best Camping Gear

REI Co-op

Last year’s winners take the prize again this year! This Northern Utah bike shop with locations in Sandy, SLC, Sunset and Ogden offers not just sales of traditional and electric bikes, but bike repairs, service plans and rentals. There’s no better way to know if you’ve found the right bike than to take it out for a test ride. Just fill out a waiver and test anything in the shop. Multiple locations, 888-611-2453, binghamcyclery.com

Utah’s blessed with outdoors stores, some catering to a specific activity, others offering a full range of retail options. REI Co-op, of course, takes the latter approach with a store full of gear. Whether you’re shopping for hiking boots, a simple tent or a sleeping bag with NASA-like specifications, your needs will likely be met at any of the three REIs found along the Wasatch Front. Friendly staffers and the ability to buy online are all appeals of REI, one of those national chains that somehow still feels right-size. Multiple locations, rei.com/stores

2. Contender Bicycles 3. Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective

2. Recreation Outlet 3. General Army Navy Outdoor

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2. Guthrie Bicycle Co. 3. Bingham Cyclery

COURTESY PHOTO

Savant Barbershop

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GOODS & SERVICES

READERS’

PICKS

Best Clothing Boutique

Body & Mind

IconoCLAD

2023

Hailed the BIGGEST breakthrought in treating depression in half a century!

Who doesn’t need a good Burner or Halloween outfit? Need to sell your previously “rocked” items? This store offers an inclusive atmosphere for anyone who needs a safe space to express themselves and explore their identities. It’s known as the go-to festival and second-hand place to shop. Now with two locations in Salt Lake City. 414 E. 300 South, SLC, 385-432-3600; 855 S. State, SLC, 801-833-2272; iconoclad.com 2. Pib’s Exchange 3. Katie Waltman Boutique

COURTESY PHOTO

Previously rocked clothing at IconoCLAD is purr-approved.

Best Bank for Small Businesses

Mountain America Credit Union

Small businesses need banking institutions that understand their budgeting and cash flow requirements. And that’s where MACU shines. As a federally chartered credit union headquartered in Sandy with more than 100 branches throughout Utah and the West, MACU is a nonprofit. That means they’re able to offer lower rates on loans and credit cards, as well as higher earnings on savings, money market and interest-bearing checking accounts. These folks have been around since the 1930s and are now the 10th largest credit union in the nation by total assets. Bravo, MACU. Multiple locations, 800-748-4302, macu.com 2. America First Credit Union 3. UFirst Credit Union

Best Comic Book Store

Black Cat Comics

Comic books have been a beloved part of popular culture for generations—not just the characters on movie screens and TV shows, but in actual, brightly colored reading material. Greg Gage has been providing those entertaining books to customers for nearly 20 years now, providing both the latest new works and row upon row of long boxes full of back issues for those looking to fill a hole in their collections. 2261 S. Highland Drive, SLC, 801-461-4228, blackcat-comics.com 2. The Nerd Store 3. Dr. Volt’s Comic Connection

Best Company That Gives Back

The Other Side Academy

This school’s two-year residential program is for those who’ve been substance abusers, homeless or convicted and might face pre- or post-sentencing. Offering vocational training, education and counseling as well as mentoring/leadership training, The Other Side Academy is changing lives, and its enrollees, in turn, are giving back to the community by being of service. The programs are mostly funded by its thrift stores and moving services offered by the academy. (PS: And if you’re relocating, their moving services come highly recommended.) 667 E. 100 South, SLC, 801-953-0409, theothersideacademy.com 2. Cotopaxi 3. Bjorn’s Brew

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WORLD'S BEST

Sagapo Forever Yiayia Stella Rose Nepolis Saltas October 14, 1927 - October 15, 2023 May Her Memory Be Forever Eternal

GOODS & SERVICES

READERS’

PICKS Best European Food Imports Market

Matt Caputo, Caputo’s Market & Deli

Best Doggie Biscuit Take Out

Bjorn’s Brew

2. Rebel Paw 3. Dela’s Doggy Desserts

Best Family-Owned Business

Sauced Up Salsa

This family- and minority-owned small business offers a great collection of mild to hot sauces and tortilla chips delivered to your home or available in local markets and served in three local hotels. They may be the only company in Utah offering freeze-dried versions to take camping with you. The Google reviews are 5-star, and even employees post about how much they love working for the owner, George Bush. 3678 W. 2100 South, SLC, 435-249-1086, saucedupsalsa.com 2. Caputo’s Market & Deli 3. Grove Market & Deli

2. Pirate O’s 3. Mediterranean Market & Deli

Best Golf Course Pro Shop

Mountain Dell Golf Course

The course was created in Parleys Canyon in 1962 and redesigned in 1991 to be a 36-hole facility with the “mountain” and “lake” courses. Even at 6,000 feet above sea level, it’s known as one of Utah’s busiest courses. During the winter, it becomes a playground for cross-country skiers and tubers, but during golf season, players are greeted by a friendly staff of pros and semi-pros who offer lessons and the latest equipment for all levels of duffers. Parleys Canyon, Interstate 80, Exit 132, SLC, 801-582-3812, slc-golf.com/mountaindell 2. Thanksgiving Point Golf Club 3. Bonneville Golf Course

Best Florist

Native Flower Co.

Pam Olson, the daughter of a nurseryperson, opened this neighborhood florist in Highland Park in 2012. Brought up to love her surrounding botanical and natural world, she is committed to buying locally grown products in season; all the green waste is picked up weekly and composted. Olson and her team get rave reviews for unique designs from simple homecoming boutonnieres to elaborate and unique displays for corporate events. 1448 E. 2700 South, SLC, 801-364-4606, nativeflowercompany.com 2. The Petal Coop 3. Hillside Floral

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“Drink coffee, save animals” is the mantra at this locally owned coffee shop founded to serve delicious coffee while donating money to animal charities. Every drink is served with a gingerbread dog-shaped cookie on the like, which is for you (not your dog!). When you walk into any one of their locations, you’ll find real dog bones for your four-legged friend! Three SLC locations, bjornsbrew.com

Decadence, thy name is Caputo’s. With three locations in Salt Lake (downtown, 15th & 15th and Holladay), Caputo’s can prepare sandwiches, pasta, salads, daily specials and desserts. You can also shop here. Need a bottle of capers? A chocolate bar? Some bitters for your backbar? Caputo’s brings quality European imports to its retail shelves. They boast a vast assortment of artisanal cheeses and chocolates, plus classes and tastings, with a weblog that gives smart and solid advice for using their products. Caputo’s is the real deal, an oasis for foodies with friendly, informative service. Multiple locations, caputos.com

AUSTEN DIAMOND

Caputo’s Market & Deli

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GOODS & SERVICES

READERS’

PICKS Best Culinary School

Park City Culinary Institute

2. Salt Lake Community College Culinary Institute 3. Salt Lake Culinary Education

COURTESY PHOTO

Don’t let the name confuse you; classes are taught on State Street in Salt Lake City by real-world chefs. Laurie Moldawer, who trained in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu and in New York at the Institute of Culinary Education, directs this independent boutique culinary school. Students here are not just stirring pots, they are stirring passions, adding a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of innovation to spark a taste-bud explosion. The state-of-the-art kitchens are the canvases where budding chefs paint their gastronomic masterpieces. 1484 S. State, SLC, 801-413-2800, parkcityculinaryinstitute.com

Mastering pasta at Park City Culinary Institute

Best Fishing Gear Store

Best Garden Co-op

You’ll often see folks in front of this store on 900 South (no matter the weather) casting fly rods and talking about fly-fishing. Western Rivers Flyfisher is not just a place to buy flies, waders and gear— you can also take classes, check on river conditions, plan a Green River guided trip or a guided river trip outside of Utah, and more. Since 1986, the store’s happy fly-fisher folk return on the regular to talk fish. 1071 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-521-6424, westernriversflyfishing.com

The good people at Wasatch Community Gardens are available to teach newbies and those with green thumbs how to better grow things in the unique climate zones of the Beehive State. Wasatch rents out garden plots, sponsors sales of plants and offers educational opportunities. An emphasis on training youth gardeners is a priority, as is job training for women facing homelessness. The WCG has been active since 1989, helping support growing and eating what you grow. 629 E. 800 South, SLC, 801-359-2658; wasatchgardens.org

Western Rivers Flyfisher

2. Fish Tech Outfitters 3. Fishwest Fly Shop, Kamas

Best Fishing Guide

Wasatch Community Gardens

2. Summit Community Gardens and Eats 3. The Mobile Moon Cooperative

Western Rivers Flyfisher

Best Grocery Store Bakery

For 25 years, the friendly staff at Western Rivers has dispensed advice to novice and expert casters without judgement or jargon. Plus, they might make you a cup of coffee while they spool a line on your new reel. Beyond equipping an armada of Utah’s fly-casters, this store also advocates protecting stream access from greedy developers. 1071 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-521-6424, westernriversflyfishing.com

This local chain’s pastry chefs are trained in the fine art of baking and empowered to create as well as innovate. From artisan breads to cookies made from scratch, challah on Fridays and custom cakes, Harmons bakeries are a pleasure for patrons to enjoy. You can watch them mixing, baking and decorating and get a taste of items before you buy. So much better than the Crisco frostings of national chain frozen cakes! Eight locations in Utah, harmonsgrocery.com

2. Trout Bum 2 Fly Shop 3. Fishwest Fly Shop, Kamas

2. Rancho Markets 3. Dick’s Market, Centerville

Harmons Grocery

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GOODS & SERVICES Katie Waltman one-ofkind jewelry design

READERS’

Best Library Branch

PICKS

Salt Lake City Main Library

Best Jewelry

Katie Waltman Boutique For more than 20 years, Katie Waltman has built a business— and a national reputation, including showcases on Oprah. com and Elle magazine—on unique jewelry designs, going way back to being inspired by her grandmother’s bead collection. From earrings to bracelets to necklaces, Waltman’s designs emphasize a sophistication that’s not ostentatious, while remaining simply beautiful. 2108 E. 1300 South, SLC, 801-981-4647, katiewaltman.com

At this moment of extremist demands that school and public libraries not carry anything that troubles their narrow, petty notion of the world, it’s important to support every library. And if you’re going to go someplace to enjoy the shared resources of books, audio-visual material and more, why not make it someplace that’s as aesthetically remarkable as the downtown main library, where you can celebrate their mission in an architectural marvel. 210 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-524-8200, about.slcpl.org/main-library 2. Sprague Branch 3. Granite Library

Best Local Gear Brand

Cotopaxi

This award-winning outdoor equipment company was named after one of the world’s highest active volcanos in Ecuador by founder Davis Smith. He was U.S.-born but grew up in many parts of Latin America with his dad/family and his various construction jobs there. He moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2014, got friends to put up venture capital and now has five brick-and-mortar stores in Utah showcasing its sustainable outdoor gear. Five locations in Utah, cotopaxi.com

2. KOI Piercing Studio 3. O.C. Tanner Jewelers

ZUZANNA AUDETTE

2. Black Diamond Equipment 3. KUHL Clothing

Best Hair Salon

Landis Lifestyle Salon 2. Lucero Hair & Wellness 3. Emerald Beauty Lounge

UFirst Credit Union

University Federal Credit Union rebranded itself to “match the most important part of our promise to you—putting you first, no matter what.” It wasn’t a buyout or a merger, and employees didn’t mass-quit their jobs with the change. Instead, employee retention is the pride of the company. They were created 65 years ago for the U of U staff and students, and they’re now open to anyone who prefers a nonprofit credit union over a profit-making bank. Multiple branches/ATMs in the Salt Lake Valley, 801-481-8800, ufirstcu.com 2. Tres Gatos Coffee 3. The Nerd Store

Best Locally Made Salsa

Salsa Queen

So many successful local businesses in the state have started as booths at a farmers market, like Utah’s own Salsa Queen, Maharba Zapata. A single mom with seven mouths to feed, she got her personal tribe to shop, chop and prep salsa during the week to sell on the weekends. She learned quickly how to market and deliver her products, and soon found her popularity led to distribution at local Utah grocery stores and, now, nationally. Magnífico! 801-307-8336, salsaqueen.com 2. Sauced Up Salsa 3. Salsa Del Diablo

READERS’

PICKS Best Looking Utah Liquor Bottle

Waterpocket Distillery Temple of the Moon Gin

Best International Market

With “China” right there in the title, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Chinese diaspora is the market for this… market. That community is central to the store’s business, with its teeming, floorto-ceiling displays of Asian products, be they encased in plastic, tin, glass or fresh. Foods from other continents can also be found here, though the emphasis is obvious from your first steps into this massive emporium of wonderful foods and cookware and the like. 3390 S. State, Ste. 11 (inside of Chinatown Center), SLC, 801-906-8788, saltlakechinatown.com 2. Ocean Mart 3. La Pequeñita International Market

Best Local Credit Union

America First Credit Union

Credit unions are not the same as banks. Both offer financial services but, as nonprofit cooperatives, credit unions are owned by their members and can offer better rates on loans and credit cards. AFCU was founded in 1939 at Fort Douglas and is now one of the largest credit unions in the U.S. with 130 locations as of 2023. Multiple locations, 800-999-3691, americafirst.com 2. UFirst Credit Union 3. Mountain America Credit Union

If clothes make the man, does a bottle make the liquor? Waterpocket’s beautiful label art certainly pops off of the shelf at the state liquor store, and its Temple of the Moon Gin in particular. Juniper sprigs twist up to a full moon shown setting behind the iconic Capitol Reef monolith for which the gin is named. It’s a striking visual, to be sure, but the best part is how it tastes. 2084 W. 2200 South, West Valley City, 385-202-5725, waterpocket.co 2. Holystone Distilling Cerulea Gin 3. New World Distillery Wasatch Blossom

COURTESY PHOTO

Chinatown Supermarket

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Not just a full-service hair salon, Landis also offers spa services. They ask you to “define the look you love,” and they will then treat you and your hair with what you need with facials, skin care, hair coloring, cuts and perms, hair removal and waxing and Green Science Plant Peels. 569 N. 300 West, Suite A, SLC, 801-364-3354; 1298 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-485-5506, landissalon.com

Waterpocket’s Temple of the Moon Gin label is a keeper.

Best Local Company to Work For

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Elegant Bouquets & Charming Gifts Delivery, Pickup, & Walk-Ins Welcome Don’t forget to order your Holiday Centerpiece!

hillsidefloral.net | 801-943-8427 2 02 3

THANK YOU for your support and for your votes!

GOODS & SERVICES

READERS’

Best Piercing Studio

Best Recreation Sports Store

Established in 1997 as Utah’s first piecing-only studio, KOI carries on a well-established tradition of body modification that can be traced to the oldest mummified remains of preserved humans who had earrings and nose piercings more than 5,000 years ago. Virtually any part of our skin suit can be pierced, and the staff can offer expert advice per your choices. 1301 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-463-7070, koipiercingslc.com

Who doesn’t love a great sporting goods store, especially in Utah where outdoor adventures are a perk of residency? This national co-op was founded 85 years ago by a group of climbing friends. They sell the best quality gear—skis, snowshoes, tents, climbing gear, top-brand clothing and more, plus they rent gear from bikes to skis to kayaks. Members get discounts on shop services, free ski and snowboard belt waxes and a trade-in program for pre-loved gear. Local stores in Salt Lake, Sandy and Farmington, rei.com/stores

KOI Piercing Studio REI Co-op

PICKS

Best Pet Supply Store

The Dog’s Meow

2. IRIS Piercing Studio & Jewelry Gallery 3. ENSO Piercing + Adornment

Best Private Bar Service Fur-babies deserve healthy food from The Dog’s Meow

2. Ma & Paws Bakery 3. Paw Paw’s Self-Serve Dog Wash & Boutique

Opened in 2011, this family-owned specialty foods store offers a pleasant and affordable shopping experience. Whether you’re looking for pomegranate molasses, Middle Eastern breads and pastries, or canned vegetables and soups from across the pond, this store is a delight in cleanliness and friendliness. Experimenting with a new recipe? They have the spices you’ll need. Open seven days a week. 4576 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-904-3989, blackcherrymarket.com 2. European Tastees 3. N/a

Best Minority-Owned Business

Sauced Up Salsa

This company proclaims that they make every batch of salsa with love as they roast their ingredients “to perfection.” George Bush is the Black owner/creator of the company. With a background in banking, sales, coaching, mentoring and retention, he has the skill set to run a successful small business and the talent to create award winning recipes for products people rave about and once you dip your chip, you’ll feel the love … and the fire. 3678 W. 2100 South, SLC, 435-249-1086, saucedupsalsa.com 2. The People’s Coffee 3. Shades Brewing

2. Hills at Sandy Station Apartment Homes 3. Post District Residences

Cactus & Tropicals: For your special occasions

Best Pet Groomer

The Dog Den

We like to think our pets enjoy looking and smelling good, but do they, really? Fur-babies seem to walk a little happier when they leave the “Den” after getting pampered by their pet-loving staff who are extensively trained in dog body language, behavior and low-stress handling techniques. They have play groups based on the size of the dogs and their energy levels, and you can check in on their care and boarding via webcams. 130 S. Redwood Road, Ste. C, North Salt Lake, 801-875-9663, dogdenutah.com

The word “maven” is Yiddish for “expert,” or Hebrew for “understands.” Maven, the residential area, was founded by Tessa Arneson and boasts townhomes, lofts and local shops, workspaces and studios. This district is not far from downtown and the University of Utah, and is both walkable and fun. Anchored at 200 East and 900 South, the website calls this spot a “curated block of locally owned businesses that believe in diverse communities, self-growth and dreaming big.” mavendistrict.com

Best Private Event Venue

Cactus & Tropicals

2. Meowser Pet Salon 3. A Cut Above Pet Salon

Best Piercer

Dustin Robbins, ENSO Piercing + Adornment

This gentle giant is known for making even the most nervous and scared newbie comfortable. He was one of the first piercers in the valley to open his own shop. He and his wife have a light, open and sterile shop that features some of the nicest jewelry for ears and body you can find to adorn your schmexy self. Text to set up an appointment. 336 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-953-0201, ensopiercing.com 2. Jade, KOI Piercing Studio 3. Courtney Marriott, Abyss Body Piercing

This plant store/nursery has such a rich, green flowery interior (thanks to year-round orchids) that folks often rent the space in Millcreek or Draper as a place to hold weddings, parties, and private events. The temperature inside is nicely humid and pleasant and allows for different food and beverage stations to be set up in various locations within the stores. 2735 S. 2000 East, SLC, 801-485-2542; 12252 S. Draper Gate Drive, Draper, 801-676-0935; cactusandtropicals.com 2. Pierpont Place 3. Red Butte Garden

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Black Cherry Mediterranean Market

2. Premier Event Services 3. Monaco Bar Services

Maven District

COURTESY PHOTO

Best Middle Eastern Market

Best Residential Complex

Need a bartender for your event? Want to make sure they know the drinking laws and are licensed and bonded? These pros serve both cocktails, mocktails and dirty sodas for parties, weddings and corporate events. And the company has a line of craft cocktail syrups that have really made a splash—berry/lavender, cucumber mint, ginger lime, hibiscus spice, pineapple/ginger, etc. Don’t try and be your own parties’ bartender—hire these pros for a guaranteed successful event. yourfavoritebartender.org

COURTESY PHOTO

Humans have massive choices for food in grocery stores, but just two or three multi-national corporations supply those stores with dog and cat food, and many are full of not-so-great ingredients. Alexis Butler and her daughter have found like-minded animal lovers who produce natural foods for dogs and cats and sell goat milk, refrigerated food, CBD lotions and potions, toys and outfits. The Draper store has a “no bend down” dog wash for pet owners. 2027 E. 3300 South, Millcreek, 801-468-0700; 866 E. 12300 South, Draper, 801-501-0818, dogsmeow.com

Your Favorite Bartender

2. Recreation Outlet 3. General Army Navy Outdoor

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GOODS & SERVICES

2. Runner’s Corner 3. Fleet Feet, Ogden

READERS’

PICKS Best Runners Store

SLRC: Salt Lake Running Co.

If the shoe from SLRC fits, run with it! 2 016

2017

2 01 8

2 019

2020

Best Shooting Range

Best Smoke/Vape Shop

Catering to gun enthusiasts as well as newbies who want to learn how to shoot, this is the largest indoor shooting range in the Mountain West. Shooters get a private booth in three shooting areas that include: a 25-yard private shooting suite, a 100-yard rifle range and the nation’s first indoor pigeon shotgun range. TNT rents a myriad of guns to try before purchasing and offer yearly memberships and classes in basic firearms safety. 5669 S. Commerce Drive, Murray, 385-800-2400, tntgunsandrange.com

If you vape, you’ll want to check out this store with its massive choice of devices, Ejuice, disposables and all things vape. Their website has great info like a blog on how to “Vape like a pro: a beginner’s guide,” the difference between PG dominant and GV dominant vape liquids, upping your wattage and getting a decent coil. 2148 S. 900 East, No.3, SLC, 801-467-6526, blackhousevapor.com

TNT Guns & Range

• Self-Serve Wash • Premium Pet Food, Treats & Supplements • Locally Made Collars, Leashes & Treats • High Quality Toys, Beds & Grooming Products

1326 S 2100 E in SLC · 801.531.4200 pawpawsdogwash.com |

@pawpawsslc

COURTESY PHOTO

Originally known as Sporting Soles, the name’s evolved to “running.” Owners Guy and Debbie Perry are runners themselves, with experience in track and cross country in high school and college. Many on the staff are accomplished runners. The stores don’t only sell shoes but also socks, insoles, clothes and supplements. With retail locations in Sugar House, Foothill Village and Sandy, they offer an instore “stride analysis” to give you the best fit for your style of running. Multiple locations, saltlakerunning.com

Blackhouse Vapor Co.

2. Doug’s Shoot’n Sports 3. Three Mile Creek Gun Range

2. Murray Vapes 3. Robertsons Smoke & Coffee Shop

Best Ski Shop

Best Specialty Nursery

With 14 locations in Salt Lake Valley and Park City, Ski ‘N See has helped beginners and pros with their ski and snowboard gear for over 30 years. Offering daily and seasonal rentals, they also service what they sell. The staff are winter sports enthusiasts who can direct you to their favorite mountains and runs and may even share their secrets to improve your style. Olympic athletes have been spotted getting a tune up or browsing the aisles. Multiple locations, 800-722-3685, skinsee.com

This shop opened back in 1975 when Lorraine Miller started selling cacti in a storefront downtown. Miller retired and sold to Scott and Karin Pynes in 2002. The store has expanded from one location in Millcreek to a second one in Draper. They don’t just sell indoor and outdoor plants; they have a side business that provides plants and weekly plant care to local businesses. 2735 S. 2000 East, SLC, 801-485-2542; 12252 S. Draper Gate Drive, Draper, 801-676-0935; cactusandtropicals.com

Ski ‘N See

2. Lone Pine Gear Exchange 3. Sports Den

Cactus & Tropicals

2. Glover Nursery 3. Deseret Nursery Perennial Farm

Winter is Coming. Might as well make it Beautiful. Flowers for Gifts, Flowers for Decor.

TWO locations:

1448 E. 2700 South

636 S. 200 West Suite B

www.nativeflowercompany.com

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ver i l e D

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GOODS & SERVICES Tat shops are getting as common as fast-food joints but this one, founded by Will McCoy, offers a wonderful mix of resident artists. Check the website to see the different styles of the creators. They are also one of the few shops that first and happily welcomed the local queer and trans community into a safe environment for personal and original neo-traditional and traditional artwork. 4902 S. State, Murray, 801-313-4155, saltykittentattoo.com

SELF SERVICE PACKAGE

No therapist available? No Problem!!

2. Black Honey Tattoo 3. Studio Elev8

* Reflexology with Shiatsu Machine * Zero Gravity Massage Heated Chair * Hydrotherapy Circuit (steam room, infrared sauna & ice plunge) * Swimsuit required * Relaxing Sitting Area & Light Refreshments * 90 min self Service Value of $130 now only $99.00

READERS’

PICKS Best Tattoo Shop

Salty Kitten Tattoo Co.

(Robes, body wraps, sandals and lockers available)

Book your massage today and pamper yourself!

Salty Kitten Tattoo Co.

COURTESY PHOTO

Matrix Spa & Massage 533 South 700 East | matrixmassagespa.com | 801-799-4999

Best Snowboard Shop

Best Thrift/Consignment Store

Founded in 1984 as the first windsurfing and snowboarding shop in Utah, this specialty shop also features skateboards and decks. Selling the largest varieties and most popular brands of boards, they offer repairs and fittings for snowboarders and sponsor pro-team riders. Known as one of the top shops in the U.S., manufacturers continually look to them for trends. When out-ofstate snowboarders find out you’re from Utah, they will have heard of Milosport! The name came from one of the original partners, Dimitrije Milovich. 3119 E. 3300 South, SLC, 801-487-8600, milosport.com

Who doesn’t love a bargain or finding the perfect gently used and groovy clothing item? The staff knows what to look for, and welcomes the chance to sell any of your treasures on consignment. No matter your gender you will squeal with delight at the huge variety of tchotchkes and accessories as well as new and used clothes. Now with two locations in Salt Lake City. 414 E. 300 South, SLC, 385-432-3600; 855 S. State, SLC, 801-833-2272; iconoclad.com

Milosport

2. Salty Peaks Snowboard Shop 3. Ski ‘N See

L AL

We specialize in Custom & Inclusive Hairstyles

1095 S State Street - Salt Lake City 801-875-1251

A RE

WELCO

M E

Best Tattoo Artist

Ashley Love, Only Forever Tattoo

The Granary District is a creative space—one that’s just right for a tattoo parlor featuring Ashley Love and her fellow artists. She’s been working putting ink on skin since 2003, and had dedicated a great deal of time to creating tattoo “flash events” which now reach around the world. Known for her love of traditional designs and pinups with precise line work, she sees her passionate art as an honor to those she inks. 285 W. 800 South, Ste. 201, SLC, 801-493-5956, onlyforevertattoo.com 2. Emily Friend, Salty Kitten Tattoo Co. 3. Mike Johnson, Studio Elev8

IconoCLAD

2. The Other Side Thrift Boutique 3. Pib’s Exchange

Best Tree and Shrub Nursery

Glover Nursery

This wholesale/retail nursery is run by two best friends, co-workers and brothers: Rod and Bryce Glover. These two are the ultimate resource when it comes to trees and shrubs, as well as garden tools, hard goods like rocks, bark and soil, and plant care. As Utah’s “First Family Nursery,” their business goes back six generations. Albert Glover started the Jordan Nursery in 1895, and a grandson launched Glover Nursery in 1911. It’s a favorite year-round for landscape contractors and home gardeners. 9275 S. 1300 West, West Jordan, 801-562-5496, glovernursery.com 2. J & J Nursery & Garden Center 3. Millcreek Gardens

GOODS & SERVICES Randy’s Records: where those who love to spin vinyl find their groove

Best Cannabis Budtender

READERS’

Dennis Magana, WholesomeCo Cannabis

PICKS

Best Vinyl Record Shop

Randy’s Records

2. Graywhale Entertainment 3. Diabolical Records

2. Jamie Kindig, Dragonfly Wellness, Salt Lake City 3. Kristy Bennett, Bloc Pharmacy, South Jordan

Millcreek Gardens JOSH SCHEUERMAN

As can be seen on their recordshaped logo, Randy’s Records has been selling vinyl since 1978. Here, you can peruse used tapes and CDs, as well as the players to listen to them on, including quality turntables, tape decks and even the odd 8-track player. But without those stacks of vinyl, the place wouldn’t be the same. In a town that’s seen real, quality growth in the record-store scene, Randy’s is a solid pacesetter. 157 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-5324413, randysrecords.com

A familiar face at WholesomeCo Cannabis, Dennis Magana retains his crown as Utah’s top cannabis budtender for another year. Magana’s dedication to helping both novice and experienced patients navigate the diverse world of medical cannabis has not gone unnoticed. With a wealth of knowledge, a friendly demeanor, and a commitment to cannabis education, he continues to be a beacon of expertise in the state’s thriving medical cannabis community. Don’t forget to tip your budtender! 580 W. 100 North, West Bountiful, 801-695-4480, wholesome.co

Best Water Sports Store

Taking down a large tree can cost thousands of dollars because removal services often have to bring in a crane so that the tree doesn’t fall on a house or business. Diamond offers not just removal and demolition but landscape maintenance, stump removal, tree maintenance and power line trimming. Call anytime for an estimate. 3645 S. 500 West, SLC, 801-262-1596, diamondtreeexperts.com

If you love playing in our local waterways, head to this store where you’ll find the latest in wakeboards and water skis. And if you yearn for a boat, they sell pre-owned inventory as well as Supra, Moomba and Alumacraft products for fishing, skiing and fun. They also service what they sell, so it’s really one-stop shopping for fun on the water. 949 W. 1700 South, SLC, 801-973-4017, marine-products.com

Corinna Camfield, Hillside Veterinary Hospital

snuggling up and embracing simple pleasures—yes, even yummy cannabis edibles. As our friends at Salt Baked City say: Utah weed should taste good. It often doesn’t, due to legalities that say it shouldn’t, which makes Riverside Farm—part of the WholesomeCo family—stand out all the more with its line of fruit-flavored cannabis gummies that go down easy without sacrificing on strain, potency or formulation. Various locations, wholesome.co

2. WholesomeCo Cannabis Jam on It—Live Hash 3. Dragonfly Wellness Bruce Banner

2. Jilu Premium 3. Dragonfly Wellness Mints

READERS’

PICKS Millcreek Gardens

2. Utah Whitewater Gear 3. Pool ‘N Patio Supply

Best Website Designer

Third Sun

Dr. Camfield (“Cori”) grew up with dogs, cats and horses in California and New York. She graduated from Stanford and UC Davis, and she specializes in animal dermatology, soft tissue surgery, infectious diseases and treatments of companion goats and backyard chickens. She owns a German shepherd named Merry and loves to follow her patients through all their life stages. 7054 S. 2300 East, Cottonwood Heights, 801-943-2154, hillsidevet.com

Large corporations can throw big bucks at web design. Small firms and nonprofits don’t have such funds, but that’s where Third Sun shines. Troy Mumm and Jocelyn Kearl put their heads together in 2005 to form a small but mighty group to help companies create a great presence on the internet for reasonable costs. Clients include TreeUtah, Amour Spreads and Café, Utah Nonprofits Association, Wood River Land Trust and the U of U College of Fine Arts. 774 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801-649-3598, thirdsun.com

No matter the season, you can find everything a gardener needs to plan, plant and care for their veggies and flowers. Started in 1955 by Vernon and Murriel Smith, the small nursery on 3½ acres grew and grew. Drive by any day, and you can tell what season it is by the plants on display. Go in and receive terrific advice from their staff for all native, rare and common plantings. 3500 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-487-4131, millcreekgardens.com

2. Dr. Heather Moreau, Canyons Veterinary Clinic 3. Dr. Kara Tassone, TLC Pet Care

2. Fluid22 3. Hook’d IT Up

2. Glover Nursery 3. Kuwahara Farms & Greenhouses

DEREK CARLISLE

Best Veterinarian

The competition was fierce, but Jilu Premium Live Rosin Pineapple Express cartridge emerged as the champion in the saucy cannabis concentrates category. WholesomeCo Cannabis Jam on It, Live Hash and Dragonfly Wellness Bruce Banner follow closely, showcasing the diversity and quality of cannabis concentrates available to Utah’s medical cannabis patients. Finally! These products didn’t start emerging until 2022, and are in high demand by Utah cannabis consumers. More info at IG @jilupremium

Riverside Jilu Premium Farm Live Rosin Hygge Pineapple Chew The Danish cozy lifestyle is Express said to be hygge. It’s about

Best Veggie/Flower Nursery

Diamond Tree Experts Marine Products

2. Atlas Tree Service 3. Rent a Monkey Tree Service

Best Cannabis Edibles

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Best Tree Services

Best Cannabis Concentrates

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GOODS & SERVICES Koodegras continues to be the go-to destination for those seeking the benefits of CBD without the high. They really have been since 2015 when they first opened their doors. With locations in Midvale, Sandy, and Millcreek, the family-owned and -operated business has been a trusted source for small-batch artisan CBD formulations by people across the state. Their dedication to providing unique CBD products without the need for a medical cannabis card remains unmatched. Multiple locations, koodegras.com 2. Blackhouse Botanicals 3. HempLucid

READERS’

PICKS Best CBD Retailer

Koodegras CBD Oil

Friends Don't

Let Friends Pay

cityweeklystore.com Shop today and save on tickets, dining, nightlife and more!

ZUZANNA AUDETTE

Full Price

Products to help you feel better, without the high: Koodegras CBD Oil

Best Cannabis Flower

WholesomeCo Cannabis Live Resin Badder

Utah is a new legal cannabis state, so sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Take, for instance, WholesomeCo Cannabis Live Resin Badder. While technically derived from cannabis flower, it doesn’t fit the traditional mold for this category. Nevertheless, it earns its place as this year’s winner in Utah’s cannabis flower category, a testament to the excellence of Utah-grown cannabis and the diverse product offerings our high-elevation sticky-icky creates. 580 W. 100 North, West Bountiful, 801-695-4480, wholesome.co 2. Pure Plan Medical Pure Plan 3. Dragonfly Wellness MAC

Best Cannabis Pharmacy

WholesomeCo Cannabis

Thanks to its commitment to patient care and convenience, WholesomeCo Cannabis retains its title as Utah’s favorite cannabis pharmacy. Their

statewide cannabis delivery service has been a game-changer for patients in rural Utah, ensuring that those in need have access to medical cannabis products regardless of their location. Plus, that’s where Utah’s favorite budtender, Dennis Magana, works. Dragonfly Wellness in downtown Salt Lake City and Bloc Pharmacy in South Jordan also earn well-deserved recognition. 580 W. 100 North, West Bountiful, 801-695-4480, wholesome.co 2. Dragonfly Wellness 3. Bloc Pharmacy South Jordan

Best Cannabis Topical

Jilu Premium

Jilu Premium secures the top spot in the cannabis topical category, providing registered medical cannabis patients with a natural solution to alleviate aches and pains without the psychoactive effects of cannabis. This localized relief is highly sought after by those dealing with chronic pain, muscle tension and inflammation. For non-medical cannabis patients, HempLucid also deserves recognition for offering Utahns options to address discomfort effectively without a medical cannabis card. Toss the pills and go green! Ask for products at medical cannabis pharmacies, more info at IG @jilupremium 2. Riverside Farm 3. HempLucid

GOODS & SERVICES Best CBD Products

Best Pet CBD

Best Medical-Cannabis Card Provider

Utah-born companies continue to shine in the CBD products category, with HempLucid taking the lead. HempLucid’s dedication to using only the finest, naturally grown ingredients and extracting CBD from certified organic hemp has won the hearts of our green readers. When it comes to finding the best CBD products in Utah, HempLucid stands as a shining example of quality and efficacy. Don’t forget to check out their new mushroom products! 852 E. 1910 South, Ste. 3, Provo, 385-203-8556, hemplucid.com

Your dogs have an endocannabinoid system, too! For Utah’s furry companions, Healthy Hemp Pet Co. remains the top choice when it comes to CBD products. By focusing on the well-being of our fourlegged friends, Healthy Hemp Pet Co. offers CBD solutions designed to ease discomfort, reduce anxiety and enhance overall pet health. Their dedication to providing non-psychoactive, high-quality, and natural products demonstrates their commitment to improving the lives of your fur babies. Order online or at pet stores throughout the country. 801-935-4586, healthyhemppet.com

Recognized once again as the preferred choice for medical cannabis card providers in Utah, Empathetix ensures accessibility for patients far-and-wide with an extensive network of offices throughout Utah and a mobile medical cannabis bus. They host numerous card sign-up events offering discounts on medical cannabis cards. Empathetix has proven to be an invaluable resource for Utah medical cannabis patients seeking alternative health and wellness solutions in conservative Utah. Multiple locations statewide, 801-804-3166, empathetix.com

HempLucid

2. Koodegras CBD Oil 3. Blackhouse Botanicals

Healthy Hemp Pet Co.

2. Koodegras CBD Oil 3. HempLucid

Empathetix

2. KindlyMD, Utah Medical Card & Medication Management Services 3. GetCannabisCard.com | UtahCanna

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Best Craftsman Furniture

Sugar House Furniture

Craftsman-style furniture is finely crafted using high-quality materials. Simple and elegant, it’s made of solid wood using “joinery” methods, as opposed to the use of nails and screws. Also known as “mission style,” these pieces happen to be Sugar House Furniture’s specialty. They fit perfectly in Sugar House bungalows and Tudorstyle homes. Locally owned since 1985, Sugar House Furniture is a go-to for quality furniture that can last—and well worth the investment. 2892 S. Highland Drive, SLC, 801-485-3606, sugarhousefurniture.com

Best Park City Butchery

Chop Shop Park City

Whether you’re after a locally sourced charcuterie board, some prime cut steak or a quick lunch, Park City’s Chop Shop is all over it. They’ve built a solid reputation among Park City’s dining elite, and their menu of sandwich classics includes everything from spicy fried chicken to meatball and provolone. It’s also just the place to snag some Detroit-style deep dish–perfect for carbo loading before grilling up all those steaks you just bought. 1177 Center Drive, Ste. J2, Park City, 435-604-0244, chopshopparkcity.com

Best Professional Organizing Co.

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Best Tartans

Edinburgh Castle Scottish Imports

If Robert Burns were to stroll up Main Street, he’d feel right at home ducking into Edinburgh Castle Scottish Imports with its shelves packed with Scottish merchandise, many bearing a Royal Warrant (“By Appointment to His Majesty …”). For the past 49 years, the store has sold tartan kilts, skirts, ties, scarves and clan crests to customers nationwide. Need a cap or a hat? The Castle has one of the area’s largest inventories—including a gray top hat which almost guarantees you a seat in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot! 124 S. Main, SLC, 801-364-1406, edinburghcastle.com

Best Tea Box of the Month

Honey Teahive

Best Lips to Latex

Honey Teahive ups the “posh” level of any social gathering. Count on Mika Lee to bring a British-style afternoon tea party to your home or location of your choice. She also offers tea classes and unique crafted catering. Don’t miss her tea box of the month. These are not your granddad’s bento boxes. For example, October’s box featured braised pork, Hainanese kaya toast, green scallion bread, red bean snow mooncake and assam black tea (or roasted barley). Sign up on Teahive website and enjoy. 801-998-2057, honeyteahive.com

Twisted Temptations

Staff Picks Best Balayage and Curly-Hair Styling

Meraki House Salon

This is not your average hair salon; the dedicated team of stylists specializes in cutting curly hair and creating stunning balayage effects. They understand curl patterns and how to cut to create volume and definition. As masters of balayage, the technique that originated in France, they hand-paint customized highlights onto the hair to create a soft, sun-kissed look with less noticeable regrowth. 156 E. 900 South, No. 5, SLC, merakihousesalon.com

Best Urban Fruit Harvesting

Green Urban Lunch Box Fruit Tree Services Sick of your fruit tree only bearing fruit onto your driveway? The Green Urban Lunch Box offers a way to put your fruit to good use—with their Fruit Tree Services, they’ll not only take care of your tree, but can help to harvest it and use the fruit for local hunger relief. 3188 S. 1100 West, SLC, 801-318-1745, thegreenurbanlunchbox.com

Best New Ski Shop for Locals

Yomie

At Yomie, a new locals-focused ski and clothing shop in 9th and 9th, you can buy Vishnu Skis, plus apparel and artful gear from other locals like Lizard Stuff, Arsenic, Malware, Kysen Hall and Rodeo. They also offer consignment and screenprinting. You’ll have the best looks while skiing the best snow on Earth. 1065 E. 900 South, SLC, instagram.com/yomie.shop

Blown, twisted, tweaked and tied up. We’re not talking about S&M, but rather Jeffery Kimber’s erotic balloon art. Offering inflated crafts to bachelorettes and bachelors across this state, Kimber’s creations aren’t your typical birthday balloon animals. If you’re looking for something provocative to make your next party really pop, stop clowning around and let Twisted Temptations tickle your fancy. Learn more on their social @twistedtemptationsofutah

Best New Way to Pay for Transit

Transit App

Not only is the Transit app the new way to pay digitally for transit tickets, but it shows routes based on your location, bus and train ETAs in real time, and lets you create a cute little icon that gamifies your ride. The more you ride, the more data is sent to other phones about where the hell your bus is—a godsend in a city where the buses can never come fast, or regularly enough. transitapp.com

Best OG Skate Shop

Milosport

Milosport has been slashing since 1984! Milo is known far and wide for its snowboards but it also caters to skaters, and they provide notable customer service. It helps that

the staff all ride and know the product. One of our favorite things is that they take their time with young riders and know the ins and outs as kids’ needs grow. Support your local skate shop! 3119 E. 3300 South, SLC, 801-487-8600, milosport.com

Best Toy Shop

Clark Planetarium

Many folks go to the Clark Planetarium to catch an IMAX show or experience an eclipse. What you may not know is that they have a kickass toy store (open seven days a week) that will make any kid (or adult) squeal with joy. You’ll find toys ranging from a variety of old standbys to the newest coolest handheld thingamabob. It’s a one-stop shop for stocking stuffers, for birthday presents or for a simple reward for yourself. 110 S. 400 West at the Gateway, SLC, 385-468-7827, slco.org/clark-planetarium

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OUTDOORS & RECREATION

READERS’

Best Bike-Friendly Neighborhood

PICKS

Sugar House

If the current construction in Sugar House is any indicator, this bike-friendly neighborhood is about to get even friendlier as the city expands trails and green space. From Sugar House Park into Hidden Hollow and past Fremont Park along the S-line, one can pedal to shops like quirky Pib’s Exchange or Look Look Tattoo, restaurants like SugarHouse Barbeque Co., and bars and breweries such as Hopkins, Acme and the Tap Room. visitsaltlake.com/salt-lake-city/sugar-house

Best Bowling Alley

Bonwood Bowl

2. Central 9th 3. Daybreak

Best Dark Sky Park

Capitol Reef National Park

A designated International Dark Sky Park since 2015, Capitol Reef offers pristine night sky vistas and unparalleled stargazing. The park hosts four Night Sky Data Collection Sites and seven recommended stargazing areas, including three campgrounds: Panorama Point, Danish Hill, Slickrock Divide and more. Pick up a night sky chart at the visitors center to help pinpoint constellations visible at various times of the year. Torrey, 435-425-3791, nps.gov 2. Goblin Valley State Park 3. Bryce Canyon National Park

Best Disc Golf Course

2. Pins & Ales 3. Olympus Hills Bowling Lanes

2. Brighton Resort 3. Creekside Park

Best Getaway—Bordering State

Lava Hot Springs, Idaho DEREK CARLISLE

Bonwood Bowl is about as classic as it gets when it comes to oldschool bowling alleys: no frills but all the fun. You won’t find laser-lit, glow-in-the-dark games here, but you can count on a family-friendly environment with more than 40 lanes to try your hand at scoring a turkey while noshing on a plate of cheese fries and a cold beer. Serious bowlers can channel their inner “Dude” here. Call for info about league nights or private parties. 2500 S. Main, SLC, 801-487-7758, bonwoodbowl.com

Starting at 9,000 feet of elevation, Solitude’s 18-hole course meanders through stands of tall trees with holes spaced evenly for a comfortable downhill walk. Except the stunning last hole, which spans 1,200 feet and a 400-foot drop. The course, open June to October, is free, but a lift pass costs $10 and operates Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 12000 Big Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude, 385-282-7155, solitudemountain.com/ things-to-do/disc-golf

There’s a reason Lava Hot Springs is lovingly referred to as “Lav-aaah” by Utahns. It’s where we go to soak away our stress, scratch lotto tickets and enjoy low-key living just a short drive across the Idaho

2. Las Vegas, Nevada 3. Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Best Getaway in Utah

Moab—Like, All of It

Moab is all about layers. On the surface are Arches and Canyonlands, with easy trails for coastal friends struggling to acclimatize. Dig deeper at Dead Horse State Park, which has similar scenery but zero crowds. Deeper still are local favorites Corona Arch and Moonflower Canyon, while slickrock trails crisscross nearby public lands. Whether you burn calories or hydrocarbons, refuel at Milt’s Stop & Eat or grab a smoothie from Gloria’s. discovermoab.com 2. Bear Lake 3. Zion National Park

Best Hiking Trail

Lake Blanche, Big Cottonwood Canyon

If you’re lucky enough to find a parking spot at Mill B South Fork Trailhead, you’re in for a beautiful hike to some of the prettiest lakes in the Wasatch, including Lakes Blanche, Florence and Lillian. Lace up your boots, pull on your CamelBak get ready for some serious gains to the tune of 2800 feet as this 7-mile out-and-back route meanders through dense mountain forest, offering glimpses of Sundial Peak and the Great Salt Lake Valley. Trailhead: 6510 Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, SLC 2. Cecret Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon 3. Timpanogos Summit Trail

Best Mountain Bike Trail

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

The best bike trail is the one you could ride every day, and for Salt Lakers, the Bonneville Shoreline is your first-class ticket to mountain singletrack, minutes away from home, school or the office. Whether you’re running Dry Gulch before class at the U, bombing down Bobsled into the Avenues or looping in City Creek Canyon after quittin’ time downtown, build the ever-improving BST network into your routine and you won’t regret it. bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org 2. Wasatch Crest Trail 3. Canyon Hollow in Corner Canyon

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Solitude Mountain Resort

border. Summer sees families floating the Portneuf River and surging down water slides at the Lava Hot Springs Olympic Swimming Complex. Come winter, head four blocks upriver for a warming dip in the town’s famous hot pools. lavahotsprings.com

READERS’

PICKS

Iconic Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park

Best Must-See Rock Formation

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Pick your approach. A parking lot viewpoint. A steep ½ mile trail to a canyon overlook. Or a 3-mile roundtrip hike to stand beneath the arch. Adventurous visitors opt for the last option, which hides your goal from view until it materializes like a giant petrified slinky. Arches now

requires “timed entry” reservations to enter the park from April-October, which can be booked three months in advance. Moab, 435-719-2299, nps.gov/arch 2. Goblin Valley State Park 3. Rainbow Bridge

Best Municipal Park

Liberty Park

City-dwellers may not have the same sprawling, grassy estates as their suburban counterparts, but what they do have is an 80-acre backyard that everyone shares. Does your yard have sports courts, a pool, a pond, a cycling track, an aviary, gardens and multiple playgrounds? Unless your last name is Romney or Huntsman, it probably doesn’t—so I guess you’d better get yourself to Liberty Park. 600 East between 900 South and 1300 South, 801-972-7800, slc.gov/parks 2. Sugar House Park 3. Murray Park

Best Off-Road Destination

Moab

With a million acres of accessible public lands, Moab is a knobby tire mecca. Spring and fall are popular dry seasons, while summer monsoons bring forth mud. Arrange a guided trip, rent a side-by-side in town, or test your Subaru’s 8.7-inch ground clearance. Popular trails include Potash Road and Onion Creek. Starting in 2023, all off-road drivers must pass a 30-minute online test, and always remember to “throttle down in town.” discovermoab.com 2. Coral Pink Sand Dunes 3. Sanpete County

Best Paddleboard Lake

Causey Reservoir

There’s a lake for everyone in Utah—Lake Powell for the houseboaters; the Great Salt Lake for sailing and rowing; Utah Lake for toxic algal bloom enthusiasts. Looking for a quiet and calm place to paddle around? There’s no beating Weber County’s Casey Reservoir, perched in the mountains east of Huntsville. Summer weekends can see the main channel turn into a floating tailgate party, but there’s plenty of space to explore for those seeking solitude. visitogden. com/directory/causey-reservoir 2. Jordanelle Reservoir 3. Tibble Fork Reservoir

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OUTDOORS & RECREATION

OUTDOORS & RECREATION Best Pickleball Courts

Best Staycation

Pickleball, that accessible marriage of badminton and ping-pong, has long found a niche here in the Beehive State. Murray Park’s complex offers six courts, shaded seating, and overhead lighting for evening sport. Open play runs from 6 a.m. to noon on weekdays and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Courts can be reserved for weekday afternoons through Murray Parks and Recreation. 165 E. Myrtle Ave., Murray, 801-264-2614, murray.utah.gov/1865/Murray-ParkPickleball-Complex

For those of us who live here, it’s easy to take for granted the natural beauty of the Wasatch Front. You don’t need to go far to get a dose of another world, as heading up the canyon to Park City gives you access to the picturesque mountain setting, seasonal recreation (whether you ski or hike—or both), and the quaint delights of Historic Main Street, with its galleries, amazing restaurants and delightful nightspots. visitparkcity.com

Murray Park

2. Second Summit Hard Cider Co. 3. Club Pickleball USA, Sandy

Best RV Boondocking

Park City

Best Public Golf Course

Little Sahara State Park

Everything in Juab County is off the beaten path, including this 220-square-mile playground of sagebrush and sand dunes. Located two hours south of SLC, Little Sahara is well-known among OHV enthusiasts. Since ATVs and dune buggies take over during weekends, visit mid-week for quiet. Oasis campground offers paved loops and pads for trailers, while Sand Mountain is primitive and rowdy. 27020 W. Sand Mountain Road, Eureka, 435-433-5960, blm.gov/visit/little-sahara-recreation-area 2. Fishlake National Forest 3. Fred Hayes State Park, Starvation Reservoir

2. Bear Lake 3. The Grand America Hotel

Mountain Dell Golf Course

Featuring two 18-hole courses—Lake or Canyon, a driving range and putting greens nested among the pines in Parleys Canyon, Mountain Dell feels distinctly Utah, where elk, deer, moose, rabbits and other wildlife are par for the course. Beat the summer heat on the back nine, then grab a table on the deck at Sandwedge Cafe for a patty melt and a cold one. Parleys Canyon, I-80 Exit 134, SLC, 801-582-3812, slc-golf.com/mountaindell 2. Wasatch Mountain Golf Course 3. Nibley Park Golf Course

Best River Guide Company

OARS

With boat houses near Moab and Vernal, OARS runs trips on the Colorado, Green, San Juan and Yumpa Rivers, including whitewater excursions through the infamous Cataract Canyon and shorter runs though Split Mountain Canyon or Westwater Canyon. Choose from a day-long itinerary starting at $129 per person or go all-in on the 24-day John Wesley Powell Retrace. Meals, rafting essentials and camping gear included. Multiple locations, 855-669-6051, oars.com 2. Holiday River Expeditions 3. High Country Adventure

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Best Running Trail

Ten years from now, when e-bikes are as common as cars on city streets (and potentially more common), we’ll look back on the Jordan River Trail as the one that started it all. Forming a 40-mile backbone for the Wasatch Front’s active transportation network, the JRT is an increasingly viable—if not preferable—alternative to driving on Interstate 15, and demonstrates the kind of sustainable, humanscale, interconnected world that we should have been building all along. jordanrivercommission.com

Named after the vanished Lake Bonneville, this foothills trail is busy in all seasons and accessible to all ages because its moderate elevation changes protect ankles and knees. SLC’s most popular sections are above the Upper Avenues (Terrace Hills Trailhead off 18th Avenue) and the U of U (below the Natural History Museum of Utah). During hot months, go at dusk or dawn because your only shade will be your shadow. bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org

Jordan River Parkway Trail

PICKS

2. Snowbird 3. Snowbasin Resort

Best Urban/City Bike Trail

Best Snowboarding Resort

Brighton

2. City Creek Canyon Trail 3. Ogden River Parkway Trail

Best Utah Road Trip

COURTESY PHOTO

Mirror Lake Highway

Brighton: Life elevated for skiers and snowboarders

Best Sunset View

There’s plenty for skiers to love at Brighton, like rolling corduroy runs, perfectly spaced trees, park features for all abilities, night skiing, familyfriendly pricing and the best snow on Earth. New for the ‘23-’24 season, Crest lift is upgraded to a Doppelmayr high-speed 6-seater, Snake Creek gets its own dining area in Sidewinder Grill and parking reservations go into effect for the entire lot. 8302 S. Brighton Loop Road, Brighton, 801-532-4731, brightonskiresort.com

Like Stonehenge, no one knows who assembled these sandstone slabs into couches and chairs perched on the Wasatch foothills. But their wide-angle view of the western sky is a worthy goal for this 2½ mile out-andback hike. Considered “moderately challenging” due to the 1,000-foot elevation gain, most hikers can handle it. Just remember to bring water, sunscreen and a headlamp for the descent. Trailhead at 383 Colorow Road near the Natural History Museum of Utah

Brighton

2. Alta Ski Area 3. Snowbird

Best Skate Park

Fairmont Park

Living Room Trail

2. Dead Horse Point Overlook 3. Bountiful/Layton Foothills

Best Urban Fishing

Big Cottonwood Creek

Once the site of a public swimming pool, this 15,000-square-foot concrete wonderland crams in rails, ledges, a mini-ramp and a Euro-gap, plus two bowls for carving corners. Fairmont’s convenient location, ample parking and nearby bathrooms attract crowds of skaters and fans, especially on warm summer nights when the overhead lights stay on until 11 p.m. 1040 E. Sugarmont Drive (2225 South), SLC, slc.gov/parks

World-class fishing can be found on Utah’s Weber and Provo Rivers, but when you’ve only got an hour or two to spare, grab your pole and a bucket of night crawlers and head to Big Cottonwood Creek. With the headwaters starting at Brighton, the creek rushes down Big Cottonwood Canyon, and once outside the canyon, it swishes through many neighborhoods. Try your luck at catching the perfect pan-sized trout at access points along the creek from Cottonwood Heights to Holladay to Murray, all the way until it empties into the Jordan River.

2. Vans Utah State Fairpark 3. Rosewood Park Skatepark

2. Willow Pond, Murray 3. South Jordan Fishing Ponds

2. City Creek Canyon Trail 3. Jordan River Parkway Trail

Best Utah State Park

Goblin Valley State Park

When the city hits triple digits, locals escape to cooler climes via this 55-mile scenic byway. Make a right turn in Kamas, then climb upward to Upper Provo Falls Overlook and uncountable alpine lakes, trailheads and campsites. Bald Mountain is the halfway point, before the road descends to its namesake Mirror Lake. Turn around or make it a loop by returning via Wyoming and Interstate 80. When Utahns say “Life, elevated,” this drive is what they mean. More information at fs.usda.gov/recarea/uwcnf/recarea/?recid=9908

Looking to escape the crowds at Utah’s “Big 5” national parks? Want to find natural wonders you can explore in a single day? Need a dog-friendly destination with convenient camping? Consider Goblin Valley your new go-to. This 3,600-acre park offers a handful of hiking trails and encourages visitors to get up close to its unique Entrada sandstone hoodoos. For more ways to enjoy the park, canyoneering, mountain biking, stargazing and a disc golf course offer something for everyone. 18630 Goblin Valley Road, Green River, 435-275-4584, stateparks.utah.gov/parks/ goblinvalley

2. U.S. Route 89 3. Scenic Byway 12

2. Snow Canyon State Park 3. Antelope Island State Park

READERS’

PICKS

Most Overlooked Site/ Curiosity

Mystic Hot Springs Step into a desert oasis that bends the concept of time. Soak in calcium-rich thermal springs frequented by Indigenous Ute, Piute, Shoshone and Fremont tribes. Book a weekend stay in a ’70s-style furnished, vintage bus. Explore restored pioneer cabins dating back to the 1800s. Pop in for live music under the twinkling lights of the Milky Way. When you need to get away from it all, nothing recharges the soul quite like Mystic Hot Springs. 475 E. 100 North, Monroe, mystichotsprings.com 2. Spiral Jetty at Promontory Point 3. Homestead Resort Crater, Midway

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Best Ski Resort

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

COURTESY PHOTO

The rivalry over best snowboard resort runs deeper than the ‘22-’23 season’s snowfall, but this year’s title goes to Big Cottonwood’s Brighton, which saw its season extended through May thanks to well over 800 inches of powder, 105 snowfall days and nearly a 200-inch base. Those in the know dropped lines in Rock Garden, sought out untouched stashes in the trees and cut fresh tracks in Milly Bowl during a winter that was nothing short of legendary. 8302 S. Brighton Loop Road, Brighton, 801-532-4731, brightonskiresort.com

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CW STAFF PICKS Best Family-Friendly Cattle Ranch

OUTDOORS & RECREATION

Cross E Ranch is a wonderland of year-round activities including a baby animal festival, summer camps, sunflower festivals, fall festival and grandpa’s pumpkin patch. In the fall, enjoy hay-bale slides big enough to accommodate grown-ups as well as kiddie-size zip lines, archery zones and bounce pads. After finding your way through a giant corn maze, treat yourself to a cider donut and pick some lovely pumpkins on the way out. 3500 N. 2200 West, SLC, 801-203-0148, crosseranch.com

Best Morning Commute

19th Avenue Mountain Bike Trail

Each weekday, tens of thousands of Utahns climb into their cars and creep toward downtown Salt Lake City and the University of Utah, despite those being the two most transitconnected destinations in the state. Apparently, some people just love sitting in traffic. But if gridlock isn’t your idea of a good morning, catch the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and use 19th Avenue to drop into downtown through City Creek Canyon. Pro tip: the Red Line will get you back uphill. utahmountainbiking.com/trails/19th-avenue

Cross E Ranch

Best Quaint Courts to Tickle Your Pickle

5th Avenue & C Street Pickleball Courts

Get in touch with your inner cowpoke at Cross E Ranch.

Where large tennis courts loom, smaller boxes and lines are being painted within them, making room for the nation’s new favorite pastime, pickleball. While there are a few hot spots for it around town (like those with the view at 11th Avenue Park), the lower Aves boasts two quaint courts of its own, creating a charming bustle of bouncing balls in the low-key neighborhood. 230 C St., SLC

Best Builder of Health and Community

COURTESY PHOTO

In the Steps of Our Ancestors Running Group

A recurring event under the aegis of the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (UICSL), In the Steps of Our Ancestors Running Group provides weekly runs and 5K races. Open to UICSL clients and members of the household, the group accepts varying skill levels and ages. It is one of the many unique initiatives designed to further the UICSL mission of promoting health, wellness and community to Salt Lake’s Native peoples. 120 W. 1300 South, SLC, 801-486-4877, uicsl.org

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LUCKY13SLC.COM

DISHES Best Made-in-Utah Food Product

Beehive Cheese

This is not the cheese you grew up on—it’s in a league of its own. Beehive Cheese is a dairy deity dominating entirely in the realm of curdbased creations. It’s as if the cheese maestros of Utah conjured up a culinary masterpiece, and us ordinary folks have the privilege to relish this enchantment. Their barely buzzed & sea hive cheese are udderly irresistible! Step up your charcuterie board and holidays with Beehive! 2440 E. 6600 South, Ste. 8, Uintah, 801-476-0900, beehivecheese.com

READERS’

While the long list of inventive and spirited hard ciders is reason enough to come to Scion Cider in the Central 9th neighborhood, they’ve got hearty snacks to supplement your imbibing. With rotating selections including cured meats from Olympia Provisions and Underground Meats, vegan fig salami and of course, cheeses, Scion’s comes out on top for its invitation to play mix-and-match with the spread. 916 S. Jefferson St. West, SLC, 801-326-0349, scionciderbar.com

PICKS

Best Charcuterie Board

2. White Horse Spirits & Kitchen 3. Salt & Olive

Scion Cider Bar

2. Sauced Up Salsa 3. Salsa Queen

Best Must-Have Appetizer

White Horse Spirits & Kitchen Egg n’ Chips

When White Horse first opened, the unexpected surprise hit came from their appetizer’s menu: The Egg n’ Chips has been a best-seller and a Salt Lake staple item. The dish is presented in a brown bag, but don’t let first impressions fool you; you’ll be scraping the bottom of it in no time. The Egg n’ Chips are prepared with their house potato chips, a gooey 63-degree sous vide egg, malt vinegar powder and truffle. 325 S. Main, SLC, 801-363-0137; Airport location: 474 N. 3700 West, SLC, 801-558-8579; whitehorseslc.com 2. Ivy & Varley Everything Brussels 3. Oak Wood Fire Kitchen Baked Goat Cheese

Best Pretzel

Scion Cider Bar’s charcuterie board offers a feast of cured meats, vegan fig salami, cheeses and more.

2. Ice Haus 3. Level Crossing Brewing Co.

Best Tapas

Best Wings

Best Sliders

The “small plates” concept is really all about avoiding FOMO—e.g., seeing a menu with a dozen amazinglooking things on it, and realizing you can try a bunch of them. But at Eva, the problem is deciding what not to bring to your table: The sublime lobster ravioli? The savory roasted tri-tip bruschetta? The harmonious combination of the fig and pig pizza? The capacity of your stomach might be the only limitation when facing such difficult choices. 317 S. Main, SLC, 801-359-8447, evaslc.com

It’s the attention to detail that makes the chicken wings at Trolley Wing Co. No. 1. Before the wings even get hit with their signature sauces, they get prepped and fried to golden perfection. In a foodie landscape that often considers chicken wings to be an afterthought, it’s nice to have a local spot that takes wings seriously. Multiple locations, trolleywingco.com

Post Office Place

Initially invented as a bar waiting room for Takashi next door, Post has since proven it’s not just their cocktails worth pulling up a chair for—and, last year, snagged a James Beard Award semi-finalist designation in the process. Among their elegant lineup of sleek bites and salads, Post’s Japanese-inspired sliders are the perfect, hearty bite. Go classic with a smashed beef patty, or try your slider with spam and pickles, crispy katsu or Japanese chicken meatballs. 16 W. Market St., SLC, 801-519-9595, popslc.com 2. Marley’s Gourmet Sliders 3. Beehive Distilling

Eva

2. Finca 3. Café Madrid

Trolley Wing Co.

2. Wasatch Wing Coop 3. A Bar Named Sue

Best Bento Boxes

Best Dim Sum

Tsunami Restaurant is killing it in the world of bento boxes. Their commitment to culinary excellence is evident in every meticulously crafted bento box. The artful presentation is a feast for the eyes. For $15, you will not go hungry—the choices they give you are incredible: steak and sushi with tempura?! And do not fret, they can accommodate allergies and glutenfree! Multiple locations, tsunamiutah.com

Dim-sum-loving locals know good dim sum can be hard to come by and consistently good dim sum is even rarer. Yet Hong Kong Tea House has been pulling it off for decades. Available six days a week (closed Mondays) until 3 p.m., choose from nearly 50 Cantonese favorites like fried sesame balls, homemade dumplings, sticky rice in lotus leaf, foil wrapped chicken and more, accompanied by a comforting cup of Dragon Well tea. 565 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-531-7010, hongkongteahouse.yolasite.com

2. Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill 3. Japan-Sage Market

2. Red Maple Chinese Restaurant 3. New Golden Dragon

Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Hong Kong Tea House

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Leave it to the Bavarian experts at Bohemian Brewery to perfect the classic pretzel. Theirs comes hanging on a hook like a new pea coat and is served with a rich tavern cheese sauce. Even if you’re hosting a group of four, this soft knot of freshly baked goodness is enough to whet everyone’s appetite. Pulling off bits of pretzel to dab in that golden cheese sauce is a perfect way to begin a meal at Bohemian. 94 E. 7200 South, Midvale, 801-566-5474, bohemianbrewery.com

DEREK CARLISLE

Bohemian Brewery

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We present our Lamb and Rice DolaaTender lamb trimmed by hand, braised in a mixture of our signature spices. Notes of cinnamon accent the savory rice. Topped with fried pine nuts and almonds. Complete the experience with a drizzle of the much loved yogurt and cucumber sauce.

See you soon!

1500 E 1515 S | www.mazzacafe.com

DISHES

READERS’

PICKS

Best Dumpling/Gyoza

Yoko Ramen No dumpling compares to these magical little pockets of fried joy. Yoko Ramen’s got great ramen, but their star appetizer is gyoza, which are somehow enmeshed together by a thin, crepe-like batter of sorts. It’s a crisp welcome to the warm, savory chew of the dumplings, which are filled with either pork or local mushrooms. 473 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-876-5267, yokoslc.com

DEREK CARLISLE

2. David’s Kitchen 3. Kyoto Japanese Restaurant

Yoko Ramen’s crepe-like gyoza

Best Fried Egg Rolls

All Chay

There’s a lot of winning options at All Chay, SLC’s beloved all-vegan Vietnamese treasure, but sometimes it’s the little things you really require. All Chay’s egg rolls hit the spot, so much so that you may feel compelled to order one of their noodle salads just to get the bonus of a halved egg roll nestled into the pile. Don’t forget to dunk your roll in the sweet chili sauce! 1264 W. 500 North, SLC, 801-521-4789, facebook.com/allchayveganrestaurant

Best Katsu

Comfort Bowl

Comfort Bowl’s chicken katsu is well worth a drive across town to find their food truck, and you won’t mind waiting in line for it, either. A crispy but so-tender-and-moist fried chicken breast is cooked up fresh while you wait, then covered with a sumptuous garlic and ginger sauce. It’s served with a side of steamed rice and a Thai salad. To. Die. For. Follow that truck! facebook.com/Comfortbowl 2. Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food 3. Yoko Ramen SLC

Best Korean Bibimbap

Himalayan Kitchen

Pretty much everything on the menu at Himalayan Kitchen is great, but there is something next level about their momos. Maybe it’s the chewy steamed dough, the perfectly seasoned fillings or simply how cute they look when they arrive at your table. Whatever their X factor may be, it’s had diners coming back for more since the restaurant first opened. 360 S. State, SLC, 801-328-2077; 11521 S. 4000 West, Ste. 105, South Jordan, 801-254-0800; himalayankitchen.com 2. Cafe Shambala 3. Nepali Chulo

Best Pad Thai

Sawadee Thai Restaurant

Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish that consists of a bowl of steamed rice topped with veggies, beef, chicken or tofu and a raw egg yolk. One of the most popular dishes on the menu, Korea House BBQ’s bibimbap is top-notch, made from scratch daily for lunch and dinner services. Pair it with a side of kimchi or their Spicy Fried Pork Pot Stickers for a fresh take on some Korean classics. 145 E. 1300 South, 801-487-3900, koreahousesaltlake.com

A downtown and Avenues staple for getting your Thai fix, Sawadee also offers the perfect solution to any acute pad thai craving. Expect a large plate with all the sides you hanker after, plus options to add chicken, shrimp or tofu to the nest of noodles. Plus, you can snag it on the lunch menu for a modest price and a smaller portion. 754 E. South Temple, SLC, 801-328-8424, sawadee1.com

2. Stun Cube 3. Myung Ga Restaurant

2. Skewered Thai 3. Tea Rose Diner

Korea House BBQ

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2. Mi La-Cai Noodle House 3. The Pearl

Best Momos

READERS’

Best Kouign Amann

PICKS

Eva’s Bakery

Best Spider Roll

You can’t go wrong with any of the baked goods in the case at Eva’s Bakery, but if you want to treat yourself to the very best (and if they’re not sold out), order the kouign amann. But don’t take our word for it. According to one IG follower, “These are the damn best on this planet.” When it comes to flaky, crunchy, gooey, sticky, sugary laminated layers of buttery dough, that’s a contest we wouldn’t mind judging. 155 S. Main, SLC, 801-355-3942, evasbakeryslc.com

Takashi

Takashi’s Spider Roll

2. Fillings & Emulsions 3. Gourmandise

Best Specialty Cakes

Tulie Bakery

If cakes went to heaven, Tulie’s would be on order. The French bakery is the place to get your special occasion cakes for your most loved ones (or yourself! Let’s be honest about the importance of buying yourself the perfect bday cake). Local favorites include their lush olive oil cake, which blushes with citrus notes and luxe brown butter buttercream frosting. They even offer flourless cakes, like their fudgy chocolate cake with ganache. 863 E. 700 South, SLC, 801-883-9741; 1510 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-410-4217; tuliebakery.com 2. The Chocolate, A Dessert Cafe 3. Granite Bakery & Bridal Showcase

Best Vegan Cakes / Confections

Sweet Hazel & Co.

Sweet Hazel is maybe best-known for its vegan iterations of popular candy brands, satisfying the sweet tooths of countless vegans in the valley. Their “Galaxy Bars,” “Crunchies” and peanut butter cups are amazing, but they also offer versions of favorite childhood sweets, like Cosmic Brownies topped with candy sprinkles, Funfetti mini cakes and Samoa bars. Go forth and indulge, the vegan way! 282 W. 7200 South, Midvale, 801-889-1466, sweethazelandco.com 2. City Cakes & Cafe 3. Passion Flour Patisserie

READERS’

PICKS Best Bagel

The Bagel Project To truly experience this extraordinary eatery, you must try one or two of the specialty rolls. We suggest starting with the spider roll to see how Takashi’s stacks up against the others. At Takashi, it’s rolled just right with crispy, soft-shelled crab, kaiware sprouts, eel sauce, spicy sauce and sesame seeds. And thanks to owner Takashi Gibo’s standards of preparation, it’s exactly what a spider roll is meant to be. Let this be your baseline for all future rolls. 18 W. Market St., SLC, 801-519-9595, takashisushi.com 2. Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill 3. Itto Sushi

DEREK CARLISLE

Best Ramen

Best Thai Curry

Best Donuts

Ramen is one of those rare dishes that can be both hip and humble, and JINYA has thrived by making it the former. Every JINYA location just feels like it makes you cooler by association. Whether you’ve gone with the popular black garlic tonkotsu or the vegan Red Fire Opal, you’re getting something that tastes every bit as good as it looks—a trademark of hip ambassadors everywhere. Multiple locations, jinyaramenbar.com

With every spoonful, the flavor explosion of Skewered Thai’s curry catapults your taste buds to the bustling streets of Bangkok. The rich, velvety sauce hugs tender morsels of meat or vegetables, creating a harmonious blend of creamy and spicy that’s nothing short of perfection. The pumpkin curry makes you close your eyes, savor the moment and wonder how you ever lived without it. 575 S. 700 East, SLC, 801-364-1144, skeweredthai.com

Banbury Cross has become one of those reliable winners, and for good reason—their amazing light and fluffy confections are impossible to resist. For decades now, many a workday in a Utah office has gotten a boost from employees walking in to see that magical box with the rocking horse logo, letting you know that sweet deliciousness resides within. Locations in SLC, Centerville and Layton, Facebook.com/BanburyCrossDonuts

JINYA Ramen Bar

2. Tosh’s Ramen 3. Yoko Ramen

Skewered Thai

2. Chanon Thai Café 3. Tea Rose Diner

Banbury Cross Donuts

2. Fresh Donuts & Deli 3. Chubby Baker

Bagels at The Bagel Project rock, as do their bialys.

It took two transplants from New Jersey to help Salt Lakers experience true East Coast bagels. Through trial and error, the owners re-created the taste of their childhoods, making bagels from scratch sans preservatives, sugar, eggs or honey. It’s not the water, they claim, but rather the old-world fermentation process that sets theirs apart. With varied flavors and spreads from hummus to jam to cream cheese, they’ll have you munching like a pro in a New York minute. 779 S. 500 East, SLC, 801-906-0698, bagelproject.com 2. Rich’s Bagels 3. Cheryl’s Bagels

EREK CARLISLE

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DISHES

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SugarHouse BBQ has been smoking meat for nearly 30 years, so it’s no surprise they know something about pulled pork. They also know something about their customers’ BBQ preferences. While we could debate ‘til the hogs come home about which regional style is best, SugarHouse lets you dress up your pork the way you like with four signature sauces: vinegary Carolina Pig, mustard, cayenne-based hot sauce or sweet and tangy barbecue. 880 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801-463-4800, sugarhousebbq.com

READERS’

As wonderful as breakfast burritos are, it can be quite difficult to eat one and successfully navigate the morning commute. In contrast, the breakfast kolaches at Hruska’s make for a tasty, filling breakfast that’s pretty easy to eat while on the move. Whether it’s stuffed with ham, cheese and scrambled eggs or one of their tasty cream cheese and fruit variations, a kolache in the morning pretty much guarantees a good day. Multiple locations, hruskaskolaches.com

PICKS

Best BBQ Pulled Pork

SugarHouse Barbeque

2. Apollo Burger 3. Red Moose Coffee Co.

READERS’

PICKS

Best Breakfasts to Go

Hruska’s Kolaches

Dress the pulled pork your way at SugarHouse Barbeque.

Best Hawaiian Barbecue

Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food

Utah’s Polynesian population is nearly 27,000—the fourth-largest Polynesian community in the country after Hawai’i, California and Washington. Mo’ Bettahs re-created the feel of family gatherings by serving up the best Hawaiian barbecue around. Grilled and roasted meats, such as teriyaki chicken, kalua pork and beef are plentiful at Mo’ Bettahs, and no Hawaiian barbecue is complete without a heaping serving of macaroni salad. Multiple locations, mobettahs.com 2. Kokonut Island Grill 3. Moki’s Hawaiian Grill

Best Biscuits & Gravy

Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade

Putting “biscuits” in the name of your restaurant is like throwing down a gauntlet, and Sweet Lake continues to defend its reputation. It doesn’t matter if their biscuits are slathered in that delicious sausage gravy or topped with a bit of homemade jam, there’s something special in each bite. Biscuits are rarely seen as main course material, but Sweet Lake will always be here to remind us. Multiple locations, sweetlakefresh.com 2. Ruth’s Diner 3. Lazy Day Cafe

Hruska kolaches: for breakfast on the go

Best Breakfast Burrito

Beto’s Mexican Food

Best Breakfast Sandwich

Central 9th Market

Breakfast burritos are hard to screw up, which makes a truly great breakfast burrito even harder to acquire. Somehow, every location of Beto’s manages to whip up the absolute finest breakfast burrito in town, which is an impressive feat in itself. Whether it’s the gargantuan size or the savory fillings, it’s hard to do better than one of these lovelies. Multiple locations, betosmexicanfood.com

For the second year in a row, City Weekly readers have turned to Central 9th Market for their breakfast sando of choice—and it’s easy to see why. The market is already a sweet spot to visit in general, perched at the beating heart of the Central 9th Neighborhood. But the sandwich itself is a thing of artful simplicity: a pitchperfect combination of egg, pork and cheese punctuated by two slices of impeccable wood-fired bread. 161 W. 900 South, SLC, 385-332-3240, central9th.com

2. Alberto’s 3. Rancherito’s Mexican Food

2. Frankie & Essl’s 3. Roots Cafe

Best Chicken & Waffles

Pig & A Jelly Jar

No local restaurant quite nails a savory breakfast in the way that Pig & A Jelly Jar does. Perhaps the best example of this is their chicken and waffles. No flavor opportunity is missed with this dish–golden brown waffles that manage to simultaneously soak up syrup and remain crispy and juicy fried chicken that hits all the right savory notes. Multiple locations, pigandajellyjar.com 2. Hub and Spoke Diner 3. Bruges Belgian Bistro

DEREK CARLISLE

2. Salt City Barbecue 3. Charlotte-Rose’s Carolina BBQ

DEREK CARLISLE

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DISHES

Best Cannoli

Carlucci’s Bakery

Cannoli is one of those desserts that doesn’t get enough love, as many Italian joints don’t see them for their full potential. This is why Carlucci’s is so important—their take on this traditional dessert presents the cannoli as it should be. The creamy, rich filling is piped into the crisp shell as soon as you order, and it’s as close to dessert perfection as one can get. 314 W. 300 South, Ste. 1, SLC, 801-366-4484, carluccisbakery.com 2. Sicilia Mia 3. Osteria Amore

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READERS’

PICKS Best Brats

Siegfried’s Delicatessen Brats: Siegfried’s serves up the best of the wurst!

Best Pancakes

Penny Ann’s Cafe

There is a fine art to crafting the perfect bratwurst, and Siegfried’s Delicatessen manages to nail it every single time. Whether you get one in-house, sliced up on a kaiser roll and doused in mustard, or take some home to grill up yourself, you’re getting the best bratwurst this side of Frankfurt. The snap, the notes of black pepper and garlic—everything lands exactly where it’s supposed to. 20 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-355-3891, siegfriedsdelicatessen.com

We often forget that the word “cake” is right there in “pancake,” but Penny Ann’s Cafe helps us remember what this breakfast staple shares with dessert. Eating an order of Penny Ann’s “heavenly” pancakes instantly evokes every slice of birthday cake you’ve ever had, only this time you get to eat it for breakfast and with maple syrup. Multiple locations, pennyannscafe.com 2. Lazy Day Cafe 3. Roots Cafe

2. Bohemian Brewery 3. Beer Bar

Best Quiche

Eva’s Bakery

With its charming atmosphere and intimate bistro furnishings, Eva’s Bakery will transport you to a Paris sidewalk café. Once you sample their breakfast menu, Eva’s will be a regular stop for your petit-dejeuner. They serve quiche Lorraine and veggie quiche daily—both light and fluffy. Try them with potatoes, fresh greens or a scrumptious orange muffin. Don’t forget to pick up a treat for later. The chocolate croissant and the salted caramel macarons are délicieux! 155 S. Main, SLC, 801-355-3942, evasbakeryslc.com

DEREK CARLISLE

2. Tulie Bakery 3. Beaumont Bakery & Cafe

Best Ribs

Best Eggs Benedict

If barbeque were a meteor, theirs would be the story to describe it. Salt City Barbeque has taken the local BBQ scene by storm in barely a few years. Best, it’s done so as a food truck, not as a brick and mortar location with all the giant gizmos. They’ve quickly acquired a loyal customer base to go along with their stacks of awards for not just ribs, but also brisket, steak, chicken, pork, appetizers and dessert. Surely, nachos are next. Find them and dig in, folks. 3335 So. State, 801-899-5541, saltcitybbq.co

It seems like every new restaurant menu these days touts “reimagined” takes on classic dishes, but Finn’s Cafe makes a strong case that classics should be classic for a reason. After all, why mess with the perfection that is the delicately poached egg, savory Canadian bacon and buttery hollandaise sauce atop a toasted English muffin. It’s just one of many ways Finn’s champions heritage and tradition at the heart of its Sugar House cafe. 1624 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-467-4000, finnscafe.net

Salt City Barbeque Finn’s Cafe

2. Pat’s Barbeque 3. Sugarhouse BBQ

Best Crepes

Monsieur Crêpes

In a Sugar House store that looks like a French corner deli, French chef Maxime Ambeza and his wife, Raysha Carrasco, utilize traditional French recipes to create distinctive crepes for their customers. Their menu includes an extensive list of sweet and savory fillings. Sweet fillings include Nutella, strawberry, banana and chocolate, while savory offerings include brie, prosciutto, tomato and spinach. Bon appetit! 1617 S. 900 East, SLC, 787-358-9930, monsieurcrepesut.us 2. Greenhouse Effect Coffee and Crepes 3. Dali Crepes Catering & Cafe

Best Comfort Food Dish

The Bayou’s Jambalaya

Said to be a dish that combines various influences from multiple cultures inhabiting the Port of New Orleans. The Cajun and Creole dish has many interpretations around the world, but here in SLC, the Bayou has mastered it, turning it into a famous staple at the Cajun-themed bar. Try it with shrimp or crawfish—and there’s even a vegetarian option. 645 S. State, SLC, 801-961-8400, utahbayou.com 2. Wasatch Brew Pub Loaded Mac N Cheese 3. Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen Shrimp and Grits

Best French Fries

Lucky 13

You know them for their burgers and sandwiches—The Nut Butter and The Big Benny are musts when visiting—but keep in mind that Lucky 13 has the best fries in town. Get the good ol’ regular fries, or live large with a basket of Cajun or rosemary-garlic fries. Look, no one’s going to win a “freshest breath” competition after visiting Lucky 13 anyway, so go ahead and load up on those garlic fries. Your taste buds will thank you. 135 W. 1300 South, SLC, 801-487-4418, lucky13slc.com 2. Crown Burgers 3. Patty Shack

Lucky 13 shows up regularly on our Best of Utah lists, but its burger expertise officially expanded to the national stage when enjoytravel.com listed it as the 14th best burger joint in the country. Perhaps Lucky 13 always manages to snag these accolades because the place simply embodies everything that makes a burger great: diverse ingredients, unassuming presentation and just enough edge to be charming. 135 W. 1300 South, SLC, 801-487-4418, lucky13slc.com 2. Crown Burgers 3. Proper Burger Co.

READERS’

PICKS Best Burger

Lucky 13 Bar & Grill One of many greats on the menu: Lucky 13’s jalalpeño popper burger

2. Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade 3. Hub and Spoke Diner

Best French Toast

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Kneaders bakers slice two thick pieces of their chunky cinnamon bread, dip it in a seasoned egg wash, then cook up their delectable French toast. They top it with housemade caramel syrup, a whipped cream dollop and fresh-from-the-farm strawberries. Enjoy it in-house or take a kit home for a family breakfast: The French Toast Feast Family Kit includes 10 slices of Chunky Cinnamon French toast, 10 strips of bacon, whipped topping, sliced strawberries and caramel syrup. A chef’s kiss to your day! Multiple locations, kneaders.com 2. The Park Café 3. Hub and Spoke Diner

COURTESY PHOTO

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DISHES Best poutine has to go to Ice Haus because you can go two ways with the delicious fry gravy—classic, with a side of any of their German-inspired eats, or vegan mode … with any of their German-inspired vegan eats. A big pile of fries with Ice Haus’ poutine gravy generously poured over the top is the warm, filling taste treat to share at your table when hanging at this charming neighborhood pub. 7 E. 4800 South, Murray, 801-266-2127, icehausbar.com

READERS’

PICKS

2. SpudToddos 3. Hopkins Brewing Co.

Best Poutine

Ice Haus

N E PA L I & I N D I A N C U I S I N E

360 State St South himalayankitchen.com | 801.328.2077

ALIZE HARDING

Ice Haus’ poutine is made with French fries, squeaky cheese curds and rich brown gravy.

Best Meatloaf

Best Vegan Burger

The meatloaf at Ruth’s Diner is a mood. It’s a vibe. It’s everything. A mainstay on the menu, this dinner entree— served with mashed potatoes, gravy and sautéed veggies—is from a traditional recipe. Don’t resist ordering comfort food at Ruth’s—you’ll still be cool. Cool comes with the territory. And no matter who your mom was or what her meatloaf tasted like, Ruth’s will always have it beat by a country mile. 4160 Emigration Canyon Road, SLC, 801-582-5807, ruthsdiner.com

Every brewery worth its hops has an accompanying kitchen—or ties to the local food truck or pop-up community. Every so often one of the kitchens gains a following. Found in a funky zone of off-ramps and light industry, Grid City Beer Works is a destination for fans of both food and drink. The beer? Super-solid. The food? So good! And the vegan burger— a doubledecked, house-blended style of vegan excellence, served with vegan cheddar on a brioche bun—has taken the top spot with our readers. 333 W. 2100 South, SLC, 801-906-8390, gridcitybeerworks.com

Ruth’s Diner

2. Tradition 3. Franck’s Restaurant

Best Sweet Potato Fries

The Bayou

The Bayou’s sweet potato fries are unmatched. They’re expertly cut and fried to golden perfection, achieving that coveted crispy exterior that’s a hallmark of great fries. But what truly sets them apart is their secret seasoning blend, which adds a tantalizing kick that elevates each bite. You can order them 50/50 with a mix of regular fries. By the way, their dipping sauce is delightful! 645 S. State, SLC, 801-961-8400, utahbayou.com 2. Cubby’s 3. Spitz

Grid City Beer Works

2. Proper Brewing Co. 3. Old Cuss Cafe

Best Beignet

Pig & A Jelly Jar

Pig & A Jelly Jar serves a fresh, from scratch menu with a unique twist on Southern comfort food. Brunch driven, Pig serves breakfast and lunch all day. No food says French Quarter more than a traditional beignet. Pig’s beignets are made on site and best served warm with their delicious blueberry compote. At Pig, they believe food should be made with love, served with integrity and should include a unique dining experience. Multiple locations, pigandjellyjar.com 2. Thirst Drinks 3. Franklin Ave Cocktails & Kitchen

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DISHES Cheesecake can be a finicky dessert to perfect, so the fact that every mini, cutie and standard full cheesecake you get from Momo’s hits the right balance between firm and creamy is worth our attention. Their seasonal flavors give each visit enough variety to keep coming back, and their flavors are always sweet and refreshing. Multiple locations, momoscheesecakes.com 2. The Dodo Restaurant 3. Tin Roof Grill

READERS’

PICKS Best Cheesecake

Momo’s Gourmet Cheesecake Co.

Best Bread Pudding

The Grand America Hotel

2. The Copper Onion 3. Caffé Molise

Best Chocolate Cake

Caffé Molise

A real winner from a beloved Italian hotspot. While there are several toothsome toppers to tuck into at this trattoria, this treat is tops. Extravagantly rich in flavor and dense in makeup, this moist confection combines dark chocolate with a whisper of cinnamon for a dessert that is positively squisito. 404 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-364-8833, caffemolise.com 2. Tulie Bakery 3. The Chocolate, a Dessert Cafe

Best Cookies

RubySnap Fresh Cookies

It’s hard to give a menu of cookies character, but this is where RubySnap succeeds. Each of its cookie varieties gets a name and pinup persona to go along with its flavor combo and, man, does it work. The cranberry, almond and white chocolate Aubrey embodies the girl next door with a secret, and the chocolate chip mango Viviana just wants to take you dancing all night. 770 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-834-6111, rubysnap.com 2. Crumbl Cookies 3. Chip Cookies

Best Decadent Dessert

Gourmandise

Ooh-la-la! You might think you were in France when you drool over the bakery case at Gourmandise. Each cake, tart and pastry is meticulously appointed to look almost too good to eat. And yet, you must. Take the Queen Emma, for example. “Layers of tropical cakes and mousse (guava, passion fruit and coconut). Finished with coconut Chantilly cream, guava glaze, fresh berry garnish and white chocolate curl.” That’s just one reason Gourmandise is Utah’s finest in decadence. Locations in Salt Lake, Draper and American Fork, gourmandise.com 2. The Chocolate, A Dessert Cafe 3. Délice Bakery & Café

Best Macaron

Fillings & Emulsions

Macarons are not just a special dessert—they’re a delicate art form. The ultimate macaron aficionado must stop by Fillings & Emulsions where they are celebrating 10 years. Not only can you indulge in macarons on the spot but you can bring home assorted or customized boxes of 6, 12, 35 and even a “tower” of 200. Picture a tiny, exquisite sandwich, where every bite explodes with flavor! 1475 S. Main, SLC, 385-229-4228; 1980 W. 3500 South, West Valley City, 385-549-1167; fillingsandemulsions.com 2. Gourmandise 3. Eva’s Bakery

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Even if you think you’re not a bread pudding fan, try this one. Made with croissants and topped with rum sauce, the Grand America’s singular bread pudding matches the classic elegance of its opulent downtown setting. Rich and moist, with a firm outside and tender center, the pudding is accompanied by a divine rum sauce that is delicious and heavenly. You may find yourself wanting to drink the sauce on its own. 555 S. Main, SLC, 801-258-6000, grandamerica.com

COURTESY PHOTO

The Wizard Hat, with a caramel center, at Momo’s Gourmet Cheesecake Co.

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DISHES Turning 40, Pam Williams felt it was time to pursue a hobby. Her love of cooking for co-workers led to the creation of Twisted Tiramisu. It’s a web-based business offering tiramisu—a delicious Italian custard-like dessert—in “twisted” flavors. Trending flavors include passion fruit, crème brulee and Boston cream pie, all available to order online and pick up in Midvale. Fillings don’t always include coffee—sometimes it’s infused milk, juice, tea, or local spirits, says Williams. twistedtiramisuslc.com

PICKS Best Tiramisu

Twisted Tiramisu

COURTESY PHOTO

2. Sicilia Mia 3. Osteria Amore

READERS’

Twisted Tiramisu: Dessert with a little something extra

Best Gelato

Best Steakhouse Rib-eye

It’s as if an Italian designer uploaded his portfolio across this creatively quirky venue. A gazillion chandeliers accompany Asian umbrellas and inflatable globes—and that’s just the ceiling. A feast for the palate happily accompanies this visual extravaganza. One-hundred and fifty artisanal gelato flavors rotate daily next to a cabinet where cookies, brownies, macarons and pastries, tea and espresso, are temptingly available. Once you pick a flavorful treat, relax on an overstuffed couch, to bask and enjoy. 902 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-485-3254, dolcettigelato.com

Who knew a broiled steak could taste so good? Apparently, founder Ruth Fertel did, and her patented broiler has been in use since the mid-’60s. The 16-ounce USDA prime cut rib-eye is generously seasoned and served sizzling on a 500-degree plate. The well-marbled juicy steak is a meal all its own—but you’ll want to order the signature sides, too! Multiple (154) locations worldwide, including in SLC and Park City, ruthschris.com

Dolcetti Gelato

“For an Atmosphere thought to be forgotten”

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

2. Sweetaly Gelato 3. Capo Gelateria Italiana

2. Maddox Ranch House 3. Grub Steak

Best Steakhouse Prime Rib

Best Gyro

Maddox Ranch House is Utah’s original steakhouse and well-known for its quality cuts of beef, including prime rib. Slow-cooked all day, the pepper-encrusted hearty portion of protein is served after 3 p.m. and, heads up, limited in quantity. Served with the perfect homemade au jus, it is the stuff of cravings for carnivores. Early-bird diners can enjoy a prime rib special from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. daily for only $20.95. 1900 S. Highway 89, Perry, 435-723-8545, maddoxfinefood.com

Staple foods like the cheeseburger, taco or Greek gyro are easy to make good, but difficult to make great, which speaks to the consistency of Greek Souvlaki. With four locations (downtown, Murray, West Valley City and South Jordan), Greek Souvlaki combines quality and convenience, and their mouthwatering pita, lamb and white sauce (or red) will leave you both full and looking forward for more. Multiple locations, greeksouvlaki.com

2. Christopher’s Prime + Sonoma Wine Bar & Grill 3. Carvers Steak & Seafood

2. Yanni’s Greek Express 3. Santorini’s Greek Grill

Maddox Ranch House Greek Souvlaki Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Ideal for weddings and receptions & corporate events

Best Fried Chicken in Utah!

Thanks everyone who voted for us!

2 02 2

Thanks everyone that voted for us this year!

YokoSLC.com

@YokoRamenSLC

473 E 300 S | SLC Open for lunch and dinner Tues-Sun

660 S. State street Salt Lake City | 801-924-9188

20 2 2

•Drive-thru • Patio • Dog Friendly •Open 6am - 4pm (SPRING hours)

•ALL food made from scratch and in-house, our recipes •Nitro Cold Brew •Custom Energy Drinks

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7567 South Main Street, Midvale @tresgatoscoffee

Greek Souvlaki grilled meat skewers are tops.

READERS’

Best Ravioli

Best Ceviche

My, but our readers do love Valter’s Osteria’s housemade ravioli! Perhaps it’s because of the daily sampler on offer in which Valter’s ravioli and gnocchi are served as a first course or appetizer (a recent sampler featured a spinach and butternut squash ravioli with Valter’s mother’s meat sauce). Or, if cheese is your obsession, just dive into the comfort of a plateful of four-cheese ravioli with cream sauce and asparagus. 173 W. 300 South, SLC, 801-521-4563, valtersosteria.com

Sure, the words “ceviche” and “Utah” don’t necessarily belong together, but the team at La Cevicheria has raised the bar for this classic dish. It’s perhaps best enjoyed on a sweltering summer day with a shot of tequila, but anyone craving the delightful acidity and herbaceous flavors of a good ceviche needs to check this place out, ¡pronto! 123 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-906-0016, lacevicheriautah.com

Valter’s Osteria

PICKS Best Souvlaki

Greek Souvlaki

2. Caffé Molise 3. Sicilia Mia

Best Birria Taco

La Casa Del Tamal

In an eatery that claims “passion” is the most important ingredient in its cuisine, you can trust that each bite of La Casa Del Tamal’s birria taco is a flavorful fiesta. Its tender, spice-infused meat is tucked into a crispy tortilla shell, and it comes alive when you dunk it in a rich consommé. More than just a taco, the drippy goodness takes the crunch to a whole new level. 2843 S. 5600 West, Ste.140, West Valley City, 385-266-8729, lacasadeltamalutah.com 2. Los Tapatios Taco Grill 3. Santo Taco

2. Yanni’s Greek Express 3. Crown Burgers

Italian Village’s calzone (aka pizza bender)

Best Lamb Dish

Best Carbonara

This isn’t just a dish; it’s a culinary mic drop, a cheeky slap of flavor that leaves you begging for more. The lamb at Mazza is practically whispering sweet nothings to your taste buds. Get your toes wet with an appetizer of seasoned lamb meatballs. Next, try the lamb kebab or dishes such as lamb and rice dolaa, lamb and spinach or the Mazza lamb shank. If you want to taste the epitome of lamb perfection, Mazza is your destination. 1515 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-484-9259, mazzacafe.com

Before Sicilia Mia opened, Francesco Mirenda created a Sicilian carbonara. Diners are treated to a tableside presentation prepared inside a 2-foot wide grana padano cheese wheel. Parmigiana pecorino cheese is added before hot house-made noodles blend inside the cheese wheel with other ingredients, including eggs and pancetta. The result is a carbonara whose rich flavor is a show-stopper equal to its luxurious presentation. Enjoy this dish at both Sicilia Mia and their sister restaurant in Millcreek, Antica Sicilia. 4536 Highland Drive, SLC, 801-274-0223, siciliamiautah.com

Mazza

2. The Other Place Restaurant 3. Manoli’s

Best Biryani

Himalayan Kitchen

As biryani, rice becomes star of the show. And at Himalayan Kitchen, biryani (which, depending on location, can be served with chicken, goat, lamb, prawn or vegetables) is at its most savory and comforting. Basmati rice is cooked with curry spices, toasted nuts and fried onions. Drizzle cool raita over it, and you’ve got yourself a complete meal. 360 S. State, SLC, 801-328-2077, himalayankitchen.com; 11521 S. 4000 West, South Jordan, 801-254-0800, himalayankitchensouthjordan.com 2. Saffron Valley 3. Mumbai House

2. Puro Peru Peruvian Grill 3. Barrio

Best Chilaquiles

Red Iguana

We all know that Red Iguana has been a staple in our city for over 40 years. Red Iguana’s chilaquiles dish is a sunrise on a plate. The crispy tortilla chips, smothered in a sauce that’s as enchanting as a magic spell, create a flavor alchemy that defies explanation. When it comes to this Mexican delight, Red Iguana has the chilaquiles game on lockdown, turning every meal into an ingenious celebration of taste. Multiple locations, rediguana.com 2. Maria’s Méxican Grill 3. Eggs in the City

READERS’

PICKS Best Calzone

COURTESY PHOTO

Once again, Greek Souvlaki takes home the gold in the Best Souvlaki category. The delectable chicken or pork is stacked with grilled veggies and is perfect on its own or accompanying one of Greek Souvlaki’s many traditional Greek side dishes. Looking for an easy catering option for a party or event? “The Souv’s” souvlaki catering options are a great choice to feed a squad. Multiple locations, greeksouvlaki.com

La Cevicheria

Italian Village

Sicilia Mia

2. The Copper Onion 3. Italian Graffiti

Best Eggplant Parmesan

Valter’s Osteria

The old world meets new at Valter’s Osteria, an Italian fine-dining establishment in downtown SLC. Entering this gem, with its white tablecloths, multiple meal courses, full bar and open kitchen, you feel like you’ve flown to Italy for dinner. Valter’s delicious eggplant Parmesan (melanzane al forno) is always a popular choice. The succulent sliced eggplant is baked, topped with mozzarella and served with fresh tomato sauce. 173 W. 300 South, SLC, 801-521-4563,valtersosteria.com 2. Sicilia Mia 3. Per Noi Trattoria

For more than half a century, since 1968, Italian Village has offered reasonably priced Italian fare to prom dates, families and anyone seeking delicious food. Here’s a hint—on the menu, the sumptuous and customizable calzone is called a pizza bender. It comes stuffed with ham, pepperoni, sausage and cheese (or you can substitute any three-item combo) for $7.99. Enjoy the calzone and accompanying iceberg dinner salad, and it’s no more hunger pangs. 5370 S. 900 East, Millcreek, 801-266-4182, italianvilliageslc.com 2. The Pie Pizzeria 3. Rusted Sun Pizzeria

OURTESY PHOTO

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DISHES

ANTICA SICILIA

SICILIA MIA

2020 East 3300 South Millcreek (385) 202-7236

4536 S Highland Drive Salt Lake City (801) 274-0223

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SICILIAMIAUTAH.COM

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Utah’s Favorite Salsa! Thank you for your continued support!

DISHES

READERS’

PICKS Best Enchilada

Blue Iguana

City Weekly readers voted Blue Iguana the Best Enchilada, but it’s up to you decide which of their nine varieties is your favorite. Will it be spicy, slow-cooked chile verde? Creamy enchiladas suizas with mole poblano? Or maybe the enchiladas amarillas with tender carnitas? Any way you roll, be sure to pair your plate with a margarita (there are over a dozen of those to choose from) or the mezcal-based cantarito served in an authentic Mexican clay mug. 165 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-533-8900, blueiguanarestaurant.net 2. Tres Hombres Mexican Grill and Cantina 3. Red Iguana

The whole enchilada at Blue Iguana

Original • mild • medium • hot • mango habanero Fiery Green and Sweet Heat Pineapple

GET SAUCED AT SAUCEDUPSALSA.COM @saucedupsalsaofficial

COURTESY PHOTO

Tradition ...Tradition... Best Empanada

Arempa’s 10 years in a row 2013-2023

ORDER ONLINE AT FELDMANSDELI.COM OR TO-GO ORDERS AT 801.906.0369

La Casa Del Tamal

You may recognize them from the Food NetLa Casa Del Tamal is packed most nights, and for good work’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Their Vene- reason—the authentic Mexican restaurant brings a new zuelan empanadas (as well as their arepas and flair for traditional Mexican dishes. And if you are curious cachapas) are handcrafted with meticulous about the menudo, know that it’s a traditional soup made care, guaranteeing the ideal ratio between the with tripe (the edible lining of a cow’s stomach), chili freshly made, savory fillings and the succulent powder, garlic and onion. If you truly espouse nose-tocorn cakes and fried pockets. These pockets tail dining, this hearty and delicious soup is for you. 2843 of joy are among Utah’s top culinary delights. S. 5600 West, Ste. 140,West Valley City, 385-266-8729, Multiple locations, arempas.com lacasadeltamalutah.com 2. Argentina’s Best Empanadas 3. Noemi’s Cafe & Catering

2. La Puente Restaurant 3. El Meño’s

Best Huevos Rancheros

Best Nachos

Oasis takes a traditional Mexican dish of eggs, tortilla and pico de gallo and conjures breakfast magic with it. (Apropos, given the New Age aura wafting from Golden Braid Books next door.) Combining the ranch-style dish with their own black bean puree, salmon chorizo and guacamole, this is a delectable brunch item that you can only find before 3 p.m. Don’t sleep on this one. 151 S. 500 East, SLC, 801-322-0404, oasiscafeslc.com

Even at their most chips-and-cheese basic, nachos are kind of a perfect pub appetizer. Then there’s the glorious mountain of comfort food that is the Porcupine’s nachos, as their blue and white tortilla chips get a boost from tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, scallions, cilantro, salsa, [pause for a breath] guacamole and sour cream, and that’s before you decide whether to augment it with chicken or black beans, and make it a meal on its own. 3698 E. Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, 801-942-5555, porcupinepub.com

Oasis Cafe

2005 E. 2700 S. | FELDMANSDELI.COM | OPEN TUES - SAT

Best Menudo

2. Red Iguana 3. Eggs in the City

Porcupine Pub & Grille

2. Nacho Daddy 3. Lake Effect

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Best Quesadilla

Best Tacos al Pastor

Decked out with gorgeous artworks and plants, Tres Hombres rocks the cantina vibe quite nicely. Their quesadilla is a generous near platter-size portion, with a perfectly fried tortilla. Fillings include a choice of seasoned meat, chiles, cheeses and pico de gallo. To top it off, it’s served with sour cream and guacamole. Olé! 3298 Highland Drive, Millcreek, 801-466-0054, treshombrescantina.net

pineapple and greens. The iconic Mexican street food is but the tip of the iceberg for delicious eats at Chunga’s—they have all the favorites (burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas) as well as excellent tortas and gorditas. 180 S. 900 West, SLC, 801-953-1840; 1895 S. Redwood Road, SLC, 801-973-6904; chungasslc.com

Tres Hombres Mexican Chunga’s The tacos al pastor are the big-ticket item at Grill & Cantina Chunga’s, made with savory, marinated pork,

2. Blue Iguana 3. Chunga’s

Best Tacos

Facil Taqueria

These tacos are a balance between carefully crafted and uniquely inventive. Menu items include Nashville hot chicken tacos topped with Mexican escabeche and nutty pepita salsa macha; local mushroom tacos glazed with orange and ancho, topped with fermented cabbage; plus standbys like cauliflower and avocado tacos with house hot sauce and carrot chips. If you’ve yet to join the cult of Facil tacos, it’s time to drink the Paloma! 4429 S. 2950 East, SLC, 801-878-9969, faciltaqueria.com 2. Roctaco 3. Taqueria 27

2. Real Taqueria 3. Santo Taco

Best Tamales

La Casa Del Tamal

Each masa-hugged tamale here is a work of art. And the fillings are a flavorful secret society your taste buds long to join. The history of this ancient food goes back 9,000 years; every aspect of preparation followed traditions and rituals. It’s still a lengthy process today but you can now enjoy fresh tamales daily at La Casa Del Tamal. They use the recipe of the owner, whose hometown is Hildalgo, Mexico. 2843 S. 5600 West, Ste.140, West Valley City, 385-266-8729, lacasadeltamalutah.com 2. Victor’s Restaurant 3. El Meño’s

READERS’

PICKS

ced n e u l f n -i n a i v a Scandin afe American C

Finn’s has been a Utah mainstay for decades and will be for decades more. 1624 S. 1100 E. Salt Lake City • 801.467.4000 Open Daily 7:30am to 2:30pm • finnscafe.net

Best Molcajete

Chile-Tepin

Chile-Tepin’s magnificent molcajete Chile-Tepin prepares its classic Mexican dishes, including molcajete, from family recipes. If you’ve never tried a molcajete (meaning “mortar and pestle”), this is the place to experience it the “first time.” Served in a stunning volcanic stone pot cradling a medley of succulent meats, grilled veggies and seafood, Chile-Tepin’s molcajete bursts with flavor. It’s a feast for your eyes and appetite as the ingredients mingle and delight all the senses. 307 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-883-9255, chile-tepin.com/home 2. Blue Iguana 3. La Casa Del Tamal

VISIT SALT LAKE

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DISHES

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Best Tres Leches

Cakes by Edith

Tres Leches is a staple in Latin cuisine. Consisting of, clearly, three types of milk (evaporated, condensed and heavy cream), this cake is moist and rich. Cakes by Edith, owned and operated by Edith and Jorge Lopez, has been perfecting Tres Leches and a plethora of other delicious desserts for over 15 years together. While Edith and Jorge make everything from scratch, they say their “secret ingredient is love.” 1736 W. 5000 South, Taylorsville, 801963-3743; 1515 W. 12600 South, Riverton, 801-542-0169; cakesbyedithbakery.com 2. Panadería Flores 3. Canela Bakery

Best Cauliflower Dish

Laziz Kitchen

Cauliflower, the humble crudite formerly in the dustbin of popular cooking, has made a major comeback in recent years, earning its own BOU category. Laziz Kitchen, on its website, describes how it takes its fried cauliflower and transforms it, Lebanese style, by adding just two ingredients: cumin and parsley. Simple, but astonishingly tasty. The three items come together in a marvelous way, prepared by skilled cooks who typically apply a less-is-more philosophy. And that’s how a star is born. Three locations: Granary District, Midvale and downtown; lazizkitchen.com 2. HSL 3. Fav Bistro

Best Falafel

Laziz Kitchen

Laziz Kitchen’s housemade blend of spiced garbanzo and fava beans perfectly captures falafel’s crisp exterior and soft interior. Vegan and gluten-free, Falafel’s a great add to any of the bowls and wraps at this small, locally owned chain. It’s a pretty tasty appetizer by itself with a side of lemon tahini sauce, but when part of Laziz’s signature dishes, the falafel really shines. Three locations: Granary District, Midvale and downtown, lazizkitchen.com 2. O’Falafel Middle Eastern Cuisine 3. Mazza

Best Shawarma

Mazza

Mazza’s shawarma is a thing of beauty. Made with thin slices of lamb and beef marinated in seasonings, it’s cooked on a standing grill, then shaved into a pita pocket and finished with tahini, greens and turnip pickles. The tender meat dances with seasonings, creating tantalizing flavors in every bite. Mazza has long held a special place in our community’s heart, and this dish is one of the reasons why. 1515 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-484-9259, mazzacafe.com

Best Margherita Pizza

Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana

Settebello was one of the first U.S. pizzerias to be certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) which ensures that the Settebello pizza-making process upholds the traditions created in Napoli over 200 years ago. The fluffy, oven-charred Margherita pizza—made with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, Parmigiano, basil and olio—is a perfect mix of crisp, cheesy and chewy, served piping hot. It’s out of this world. 260 S. 200 West, SLC, 801-322-3556, settebello.net

Bricks Corner

Wait for the delicious crunch of Bricks Corner’s pizzas

The Dodo Restaurant

The Cobb may be a salad, yes, but it’s also a satisfying meal when done right. And boy, does The Dodo know how to do it the right way. Their “Chef’s Cobb” consists of fresh greens, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, crumbled Gorgonzola and buttermilk dressing. Let us pray this fan favorite at the Dodo neighborhood bistro never goes extinct. 1355 E. 2100 South, SLC, 801-486-2473, thedodorestaurant.com 2. Red Rock Brewing Co. 3. Squatters Pub Brewery

Best Coleslaw

Feldman’s Deli

It’s not surprising to see Feldman’s as a repeat winner in this category, because their approach to the classic deli side remains so unique. The amazing sandwiches served here find their perfect accompaniment in the flavorful mix of cabbage and carrot, creamy dressing, and that peppery punch of seasoning. Not only would it probably win a blind taste test, but anyone who had ever tried it before would know exactly where it came from. 2005 E. 2700 South, SLC, 801-906-0369, feldmansdeli.com 2. Pretty Bird 3. Salt City Barbecue

Best Gluten-Free Pizza

What constitutes a good salad? For some, it may be a dense colorful salad that packs a punch. Those who prefer substantial salads would likely be the same ones who voted for Spitz’s Doner Salad for Best Salad. It’s a salad to be reckoned with: crunchy greens piled high with onions, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, pepperoncinis, garbanzo beans and fried pita strips, topped off with luscious dressing. It’s a salad lovers’ green dream come true, and healthy, too! Multiple locations, spitz-restaurant.com

2. The Pie Pizzeria 3. Este Pizzeria

Best Deep-Dish Pizza

Best Cobb Salad

Best Salad

Slackwater, renowned for its delicious pizza, extends its culinary prowess to gluten-free offerings. What makes their gluten-free pizza so adored is the unwavering commitment to taste and quality. The gluten-free crust, often a challenging aspect, is perfected to achieve the ideal balance of crispiness and tenderness. It is so delicious you may ask yourself if it is actually gluten-free?! Hot Honey Double Pepperoni is a local favorite. Multiple locations, slackwaterpizzeria.com

2. Slackwater 3. The Pie Pizzeria

PICKS

2. Pizza Nono 3. Level Crossing Brewing Co.

2. Curry Fried Chicken 3. Beirut Cafe

Slackwater Pizza

READERS’

Bricks Corner occupies a special place in the hearts of pizza fans. Once we’ve been seduced by the iconic crunch that develops on the edges of each Bricks Corner pie, we are forever changed. When such culinary alchemy is matched with a heap of tasty toppings, it’s just hard to look at other pizzas the same way. 1465 S. 700 East, SLC, 801-953-0636, brickscornerslc.com

DEREK CARLISLE

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DISHES

Spitz Doner Salad

2. Sweet Hazel & Co. California Chick’n 3. Nomad East’s Smoked Salmon Salad

Best Cheesesteak Sandwich

Best Banh Mi Sandwich

If it’s a hot sandwich with meat and cheese, you can bet Moochie’s makes it better than anyone else. Their cheesesteak sandwich, for example, exudes indulgence—all that melty cheese and thinly sliced beef, and the freshly baked sandwich buns are to die for. Forget the plane ticket to the City of Brotherly Love–you can get all that and a bag of chips right here at Moochie’s. Multiple locations, moochiesmeatballs.com

What started as a small Vietnamese kitchen on State Street has blossomed into a local banh mi empire. Even after Oh Mai’s expansion to all areas of the Wasatch Front, their banh mi have remained satisfying, flavorful additions to our local food scene. From the simplicity of the sunny-side-up egg to the sophistication of the honey-glazed pork, Oh Mai’s banh mi game is unmatched. Multiple locations, ohmaisandwichkitchen.com

Moochie’s Meatballs & More

2. The Philadelphian 3. DP Cheesesteaks

Oh Mai Sandwich Kitchen

2. Little Saigon 3. All Chay

www.thepie.com

Voted Best Pizza

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DISHES

READERS’

PICKS

Best Meatball Sandwich

Moochie’s Meatballs & More

The Moochie’s cheesesteak has already been recognized on this list, so it’s not a huge surprise that Moochie’s meatball sandwich would follow suit. The homemade meatballs, the gooey marinara and the melty cheese hit just right on this classic sandwich. Sure, it’s hard to mess up a meatball sandwich, but that makes it all the more difficult to excel at one like Moochie’s does. Multiple locations, moochiesmeatballs.com 2. Caputo’s Market & Deli 3. Grove Market And Deli

Fresh poké bowls, bento boxes & Pan Asian inspired small bites Thank you for your support Salt Lake City 6 E Broadway, SLC | 385-448-8351

@ LemonSharkPokeslc

DEREK CARLISLE

lemonsharkpoke.com/saltlakecity

Moochies’ transcendent meatball sandwich

Best BLT

Best French Dip Sandwich

While the BLT is technically an off-menu item (last we checked), the artful sandwich makers at Central 9th Market are nonetheless prepared to make you one when you ask for it—with a just-right cluster of crisp bacon and fresher-than-fresh veggies held between two thick cuts of wood-fired focaccia. This three-ingredient lunch classic has never looked, tasted or crispy-crunched better. 161 W. 900 South, SLC, 385-332-3240, central9th.com

For starters, the French Dip sandwich originated in Los Angeles, not France, but was so named, it’s thought, because of its French roll. Desert Edge leans more toward spice with its Mexican Hot Roast Beef Dip. They take a sourdough baguette, pile it high with slow-roasted beef, pepper jack cheese, roasted chiles and chipotle mayo and serve it up with spicy au jus. But if it’s French you’re after, pair it with a cup of Desert Edge’s famous French onion soup. 551 S. 600 East, SLC, 801-521-8917, desertedgebrewery.com

Central 9th Market

2. Hopkins Brewing Co. 3. Lucky 13

Best Cuban Sandwich

Beltex Meats

People adore Beltex Meats’ Cuban sandwiches made with their in-house smoked ham, roast mojo pork loin, house-brined pickles, mustard, Swiss cheese, fennel marmalade and freshly baked bread. They’re so irresistible that if you don’t arrive early (Saturday special only), they’re gone within the first hour of opening. We love having this quality butcher shop in our city—though, as you can see, it’s more than just a butcher shop! 511 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-532-2641, beltexmeats.com

8612 S 1300 E | 801.495.4550 | fratelliutah.com

2. Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining 3. Red Rock Brewing Co.

Desert Edge Brewery

2. Piper Down Pub 3. Chop Shop Park City

Best Fried-Chicken Sandwich

Pretty Bird

Back during the social media kerfuffle that revolved around fried chicken sandwiches, those of us who had been to Pretty Bird just sat back and chuckled. As much as the big fast food chains wanted to duke it out, we all know that Pretty Bird is the only place in Utah to go if you wanted a really, really good fried chicken sandwich—and it still is. Multiple locations, prettybirdchicken.com 2. Cluck Truck 3. Mr. Charlie’s Chicken Fingers

SWEETLAKEFRESH.COM

DRAPER 519 EAST 12300 SOUTH

@sweetlakebiscuitsandlimeade

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SALT LAKE 54 WEST 1700 SOUTH

Best Inexpensive Lunch

Buds

If you want a big-ass sandwich that will fill you up on the cheap, look no farther than this SLC vegan classic. Not only will Buds save you money, their plant-based options come in every craveable taste—classic deli, Italian cold cut, buffalo, pesto, cheesesteak, BBQ and even pizzasteak. All the sandies come in under $8, leaving more than enough room for a lavender lemonade, horchata cold brew or a dollar-fifty cookie to have as a treat. 509 E. 300 South, SLC, budsslc.com 2. Tacos Don Rafa 3. Santo Taco

Best Seafood Sandwich

Freshies Lobster Salt Lake City

A delicious seafood sandwich is a harmonious blend of fresh, flavorful ingredients that transport you straight to the seaside, which is quite a feat in Utah. It begins with the star of the show: the seafood, which can vary from succulent lobster or crab, seasoned and then cooked to perfection, ensuring it retains its natural, oceanic flavors. Multiple locations, freshieslobsterco.com 2. Slapfish 3. Chop Shop Park City

Best Deli Sandwich

Caputo’s Market & Deli

Whether it’s the signature Old School sandwich or the traditional muffaletta, any sandwich at Caputo’s tells a story. Thinly sliced deli meats, freshly-baked bread and a little bit of amore are what make Caputo’s deli offerings so irresistible. You can get any sandwich (plus any of their signature deli meats) to-go, for a taste of Caputo’s at home. Multiple locations, caputos.com 2. Feldman’s Deli 3. Grove Market And Deli

Best Fish Platter

Current Fish & Oyster

Current Fish & Oyster’s seafood platter keeps us coming back for more! Succulent seafood offerings— including oysters, shrimp, Dungeness crab and Maine lobster tail—are all expertly prepared and plated to perfection. Current’s menu is designed around fresh seafood available from regional America with an eye always toward sustainability. So sit back and enjoy their expertise in tasting what’s fresh, well-prepared, good for you and good for the planet. 279 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-326-3474, currentfishandoyster.com 2. Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar 3. The Bayou

Some people would have you believe that Jewish rye bread, corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing make a Reuben, but those people are misled. A true Reuben requires you to eat some of the corned beef with your fingers before you can pick the sandwich up. A true Reuben gets all over your hands, face and shirt. Feldman’s Reuben is the Best of Utah because they know how to make a true Reuben. 2005 E. 2700 South, Millcreek, 801-906-0369, feldmansdeli.com 2. Siegfried’s Delicatessen 3. Level Crossing Brewing Co.

Have what she’s having: Feldman’s pastrami Reuben

READERS’

PICKS

Best Reuben Sandwich

Feldman’s Deli

COURTESY PHOTO

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DISHES

@arempasslc gluten ask for

free specials of the day

www.arempas.com 350 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Ut, 84111 | 575 E University Pkwy Suit A-22, Orem, Ut, 84097 | 220 W 7200 S B-C, Midvale, UT 84047 BREAKFAST Greek Omelettes, Pancakes, French Toast, Chops, Steaks

LUNCH

A EK

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OTHER PLACE

Homemade Soups, Greek Specials, Best Greek Salads, Souvlaki, Gyro, Hamburgers, Chicken, Hot And Cold Sandwhiches

DINNERS

469 EAST 300 SOUTH | 801-521-6567

OPEN TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY 8AM TO 9PM

Hop

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1048 E 2100 S Sugar House

@ HopkinsBrewingCo

G A S T R O P U B F O O D • B RU N C H • L O C A L S U S TA I N A B L E I N G R E D I E N T S • D O G F R I E N D LY PAT I O

LIVE MUSIC Mondays

TRIVIA Tuesdays 7-9pm

JAZZ JAM Wednesdays

LIVE MUSIC Thursdays

SMALL BATCH Fridays

LIVE MUSIC Saturdays

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BEER AND WINE

Mezedakia, Steaks, Leg Of Lamb, Lamb Chops, Fish, Kabobs, Pasta, Dolmathes, Moussaka, Chicken

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DISHES

READERS’

Best Oysters

Best Seafood Cocktail

Oyster lovers, rejoice! With “oyster” in their name, the shellfish at Current have to be fresh and well prepared to bring the taste of the ocean (and a hint of brininess) to landlocked Utah. Current Fish & Oyster offers two delicious options to choose from: chef’s choice oysters on the half shell or Kumamoto oysters on the half shell. Both are served with mignonette sauces and lemon to complement the oysters and satisfy your cravings. 279 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-326-3474, currentfishandoyster.com

For more than 40 years, patrons of Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar have ordered countless bowls of clam chowder and platters of oysters. It’s no surprise that Market Street also serves an impressive gulf shrimp cocktail with a housemade cocktail sauce. Tuck into a shrimp cocktail, pair it with a gin martini, and you’ll conclude life is good. Multiple locations, marketstreetgrill.com

Current Fish & Oyster

PICKS Best Fish & Chips

Little Taste of Britain

2. Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar 3. Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House

Best Poke

Hanaya Poke SLC

Fish and chips at Little Taste of Britain

2. On the Hook Fish and Chips 3. Summerhays Halibut and Chips

TASTE UTAH

Little Taste of Britain offers what its name implies-- assorted British faves, led by fish and chips. They’re real planks of white cod done perfectly with a great batter. The fish is always white and fresh. It falls apart as you enjoy every bite. There’s also shrimp, shepherd’s pie, mushy peas (a British delicacy), simple salads and other delights. They have lots of British products for sale, including sweets and canned goods. Cheerio! 768 W. 1425 North, Layton, 801-543-5707, littletasteofbritain.net

Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar

2. Tres Hombres Mexican Grill & Cantina 3. Maria’s Méxican Grill

Best Clam Chowder

Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar

When it comes to crafting your own poke masterpiece in SLC, Hanaya Poke is the undisputed maestro of the “build your own” symphony. When you crave sushi (but not sushi prices), a poke bowl is a great go-to! Offering the freshest fish selections and a rainbow of vibrant toppings, it’s a poke paradise letting you make your own beautiful music. Sometimes we crave that sweet, sweet gochujang sauce! 675 E. 2100 South, Ste. B, SLC, 385-528-0592, hanayapokeslc.com

On Oct. 30, 1980, the first Market Street Grill opened inside the historic New York Hotel building in downtown Salt Lake. The chef back then, the late Tom Guinney, brought his recipes from California where he’d worked at seafood restaurants and been a corporate chef. His recipe for his “undeniably best clam chowder in the United States” is made with clams, onions, celery and fresh leeks. Guinney’s chowder was served the first night and remains a mainstay today. Multiple locations, marketstreetgrill.com

2. LemonShark Poké 3. FreshFin Salt Lake City

2.Current Fish & Oyster 3.The Green Pig Pub

801-410-4046 | 3364 s 2300 e, slc | slcprovisions.com

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DISHES If you associate chili with tailgating at a football game or as a dish to be enjoyed in the mountains around the campfire, Whiskey Street will change your mind. Their bourbon black bean buffalo chili topped with shredded fontina cheese and cilantro crème fraiche is the most elevated rendition of this comfort classic we’ve ever tasted. Wash it down with one of over 500 (five hundred!) whiskeys. 323 S. Main, SLC, 801-433-1371, whiskeystreet.com

authentic Mexican Food

celebrating 26 years

Best French Onion Soup

Desert Edge Brewery

Desert Edge may be pros at brewing beer, but some patrons go there expressly to sip something warm and golden. A symphony of caramelized onions simmered in savory beef broth and crowned with a thick layer of melted Swiss cheese, Desert Edge’s French onion soup is the epitome of craveable comfort food. Also available at Desert Edge’s sister restaurant, Stella Grill, this is not just soup; it’s a warm hug for your taste buds. 273 Trolley Square, SLC, 801-521-8917, desertedgebrewery.com

801-533-8900

Below Benihana and across from the Salt Palace

Best Chili

Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining

What Did We Miss? Best Croissant Menu

Forty Three Bakery

2. Gracie’s 3. Stella Grill

With new digs of his own now, international award-winning pastry chef Andrew Corrao is serving his buttery croissants in a variety of ways. The classic all-butter croissant is always delicious, but that vanilla bean-glazed pull apart hits differently. Try it for yourself and report back. 733 W. Genesee Ave., SLC, 435-962-1628, fortythreebakery.com

Best Soup

Best Vegan BBQ

Soup Kitchen is a nostalgic, welcoming place—the décor in Sugar House especially might remind you of your school cafeteria back in the day. Their clam chowder, chicken noodle, cheese broccoli or good oldfashioned split-pea are all house-made and delicious, especially on chilly wet days. Soup Kitchen’s tomato soup is a must; it has a particularly robust, delightful flavor and is best for dunking their housemade breadsticks into. Locations in Sugar House, South Salt Lake and on Redwood Road, slcsoup.com

A backyard miracle in the Avenues, Blatch’s offers vegan barbecue done right—not only with mains like slow smoked jackfruit, tempeh burnt ends, smoked seitan brisket and Korean barbecue strips, but with their variety of sides. No order is complete without mixing and matching smoked poblano potato salad, wood-fired rolls, Cuban-inspired black beans and, of course, slaw. Make this your next takeout order, but, keep in mind, they’re open only two days a week for pre-reserved orders and pick-up. 186 I St., SLC, 385-210-5029, blatchsbackyardbbq.com

Soup Kitchen’s Cream of Tomato

165 S. West Temple • SLC

PICKS

DEREK CARLISLE

2. The Soup Kitchen 3. Squatters Pub Brewery

READERS’

2. Feldman’s Deli’s Matzo Ball Soup 3. Oasis Café Tomato Fennel

Blatch’s Backyard BBQ

THANK YOU

What Did We Miss? Beaumont Bakery & Café

The elote-inspired avocado toast at Beaumont satisfies the Southwestern toast twist you didn’t know you needed. Perfectly ripened avocado, smoky roasted corn, crumbled Cotija cheese and just-spicy-enough fresno chilis pile atop hearty Super Seed bread for a breakfast that easily masquerades as lunch or #girldinner (add eggs, turkey or salmon if you please), available daily open to close. Bonus points if you pair it with a lemon filled cruffin. 3979 Wasatch Blvd., Millcreek, 801-676-9340, beaumont.cafe

Best Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

Nana’s Sonoran Hot Dogs

As Nana’s officially brought bacon-wrapped hot dogs to the Wasatch Front, it’s only fair that they nab the Best of Utah accolades for this wonderment of porcine goodness. While wrapping a hot dog in bacon seems like an easy way to turn up the volume on those taste buds, the Nana’s team goes above and beyond. They offer the genuine article when it comes to the Sonoran hot dog, and it’s always a good time. 7659 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, 623-210-7320, @nanas_hotdogs

Best Gluten-Free Velvety Goodness

Delice Bakery & Café Crème Brulee

Chef Jean-Jacques Grossi started baking at a young age in France. After moving to Salt Lake City in 1977 and working for other bakers, Chef Grossi and Akbar Matinkhah opened Délice French Bakery and Café in 2018. A dessert of theirs sure to please is their rich, creamy custardy crème brulee with that slight burnt-sugar crunch of the caramel topping. Stop by and pick one up today. 2747 S. State, SLC, 801- 953-1910, delicebakeryslc.com

#1...

Mar | Muntanya

Chef Tyson Peterson is a Utah native who is able to channel Spanish cuisine like it’s his job. OK, it is his job, but Peterson has a knack for creating fusion dishes that actually work really well. His paella has everything you would want in this sharable dish (no tapa-size plate here), with some extra proteins to spare. 170 S. West Temple, SLC, 385-4336700, mar-muntanya.com

Best Not-NecessarilyMexican Tacos

Roctaco

There’s nothing wrong with a traditional taco filled with traditional ingredients, but when you want to deviate from tradition, Roctaco’s freestyle tacos have you covered. They specialize in borrowing liberally from the cuisine of Korea, Vietnam, India and Mexico for their tacos, and each one is a tasty adventure in itself. 248 S. Edison St., SLC, 801-905-8016; 471 E. St. George Blvd., St. George, 435-652-5999; roctaco.com

Best New York Style Pizza

Villaggio Pizzeria

Villaggio’s New York-style pizza is a big city yum adventure that reminds us of the bustling streets of NYC with every bite. To add to the authenticity, they even import some of their ingredients from the Big Apple! But it’s not only about pizza; their menu is a culinary gold mine. You can stick to the classics or step it up with a balsamic glaze—either way, your taste buds will thank us! 3144 S. State, Ste. 1, South Salt Lake, 801-410-4355, villaggio-slc.com

You Stay Classy Salt Lake! FULL BAR FAMILY FRIENDLY YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SPOT FOR LIVE SPORTS & EVENTS

1465 S. 700 E. | 801.953.0636 | brickscornerslc.com

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Delice Bakery’s case of tempting treats

for voting us

Best ‘Let’s Share’ Paella

COURTESY PHOTO

Best Avocado Toast

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20 W. 200 S. SLC

(801) 355-3891 • siegfriedsdelicatessen.com

DISHES Best Drunken Noodles

Best Pop-Up Bagel Getting a Home

Many Thai food lovers rejoiced at finding Nuan’s Thai Kitchen reopening in new digs, albeit at another Cottonwood Heights strip mall. Once again, we can indulge in Nuan’s delectable spring rolls, chicken satay, green curry and pad thai that we know and love. It’s just steps away from an excellent state liquor and wine store. Ergo, you can buy your booze and then feast on their truly delightful drunken noodles when you get home. 1871 Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, 801-432-8356, nuansthaikitchen.com

SLC’s newest (and perhaps chewiest) bagel can be found all around town at different locales. Find their completely coated bagels in every flavor at Liberty Heights Fresh, The Neighborhood Hive and as breakfast sandos at Old Cuss Café. Or just buy directly from them Thursdays through Saturdays at their new full-service bagel shop that opened Nov. 11. 204 E. 500 South, SLC, 801-613-0066, instagram.com/babys.bagels

Baby’s Bagels

Best Vegan Sushi Rolls

Best Park City Breakfast

Keyaki Sushi

Five5eeds

Not only does Keyaki Sushi create innovative Latin and Japanese fusion rolls, but they also serve amazing vegan sushi. Most restaurants stop at two or three (somewhat boring) vegan rolls. But Keyaki offers 10 big, beautiful, loudly decorated rolls giving vegans the delight usually reserved for fish-eaters. Rolls include tropical fruits, toasted coconut, tofu several ways, crunchy zucchini and in the case of the Imperial Roll, enoki mushroom nestled inside a roll topped with elegant fried lotus. 167 W. 4500 S. Frontage Road, Murray, 385-787-4409

Fresh, wholesome, crunchy and inventive. We have so many reasons to love the breakfast/brunch menu of this Aussie eatery, such as their huge pancakes slathered in mixed berries, Moroccan baked eggs, smashed avocado and peas on toast, and delicious housed-baked goods. There’s a wow factor here that outdoor adventurers and locals cannot ignore. Fill’er up here and hit the slopes. 1600 Snow Creek Drive, Ste. EF, Park City, 435-901-8242, five5eeds.com

Best Sushi on a Bullet Train

Best Weekend Spice

Sushi Pro & Timi Boba Milk Tea

Sushi Pro is the only restaurant in Utah that boasts “conveyor belt” sushi (the Japanese call it kaitenzushi). Small covered plates of freshly made sushi and sashimi travel around on a conveyor belt next to the tables, and diners are free to grab what looks good to them. At the end, the plates are added up to determine the bill. You can also order dishes or boba tea drinks off the menu, and they are delivered to your table by the most adorable toy bullet train imaginable. 4337 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, 385-432-0834, sushiproutah.com

Oishi Ramen

Sandy’s Curry Connect prides itself on fresh South Indian fare (but you can order Northern dishes as well). On weekends, Curry Connect is generally packed, and perhaps their weekend specials have something to do with it. Dishes like Thalappakatti goat biryani, Veg Manchurian and Kerala fish curry highlight the list. Broaden your palate and soak up the positive energy of the friendly owners and customers. 863 E. 9400 South, Sandy, 385-274-4177, curryconnect.com

Best ‘Normal-Size’ This

Apollo Burger

For decades, the Supersize Me model of giant portions at takeout eateries has been all the rage. But there’s growing evidence consumers want to get back to normal (in pant size and budget). At Apollo Burger, you can still order their craveable burgers and sandwiches, but maybe slow your belly roll with any of their eight junior-size items. Pair that Junior Apollo Burger with any seven fresh salads for takeout—Greek, Cobb and Chef’s included! Multiple locations, apolloburger.com

Best Belly-Warming Modern Asian

Best Quietly Cheap, Quality Burrito

Apres ski dining options tend to be of the bougie variety--butternut squash bisque, oysters, etc. But post-ski noshing should warm you up from the inside out, and that’s what you get at Saola. Their sophisticated take on popular Asian favorites like egg rolls, Peking duck and pho with filet mignon brings cozy comfort food to a new level. 7307 Canyon Centre Parkway, Ste. 1, Cottonwood Heights, 801-944-2949, saolaeats.com

Meat Hook BBQ

Curry Connect

The flavor combinations at Oishi Raman are spectacular. That they offer oxtail, tongue and even intestine skewers indicates that this State Street eatery is willing to push—and please—local palates. Notably, upon entering Oishi Ramen, you might notice their cooks making, stretching, pulling and turning homemade noodles. Those noodles become the base for their Chinese-style ramens, but can be added to a Japanese ramen dish as well. You’ll forgo all packaged noodles ever after. 3424 S. State, Ste. A, SLC, 801-410-4310, oishiramenslc.com

Saola Restaurant & Lounge

Best Party BBQ

Yoko Taco’s $5 Bean Burrito

You may have noticed that even fast food ain’t cheap these days—but you can still get a cheap ... er ... affordable burrito and with locally sourced, high-quality fixin’s at Yoko Taco. Their $5 bean and rice burrito is simple satisfaction rounded out by fried cheese and their house sauces. It won’t break the bank at lunch time. 285 W. 800 South, SLC, 385-218-4325, yokotacoslc.com

Meat Hook: barbecue and more! We go to Meat Hook BBQ for delicious brisket, ribs and pulled pork, but we stay for the party—the home party, that is, especially one you don’t have time to prepare for. When you expect lots of guests (think: Super Bowl), better hook up at Meat Hook for selections beyond BBQ joint staples. Tacos, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and salads can round things out. Party of one? Keep the Barbecuterie platter near your TV remote and eat for two days. 3380 S. Redwood Road, SLC, 801-938-3773, meathookbbqco.com

Best Oh My Stars & Chars in Cedar City

Centro Woodfired Pizzeria

If, after attending a fabulous theater production at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, you get a craving for scratch-made pizza ingredients and toppings, lovingly handled pizza dough and wood fired oven char, then make that reservation at Centro for their “artisan made” fare (hint: The fennel sausage pizza does not disappoint). It’s also the place for proper “stagedooring,” and glimpsing your favorite performers because—you know—actors gotta eat, too. 50 W. Center St., Cedar City, 435-867-8123, centropizzeria.com

Best Apple Strudel

Weller’s Bistro

If German hospitality and comfort food are what you crave, here you’ll find authentic entrees like schnitzel, stuffed cabbage rolls, beef rouladen and goulash with sauerkraut and spätzle. After your

meal, full you may be, but find room for the German apple strudel (apfelstrudel). This heavenly dessert consists of layers of baked cinnamon-seasoned apples, raisins and berry sauce in a strudel pastry that sits on a dish of vanilla sauce and is topped with powdered sugar and chocolate drizzle. Layton, here we come. 197 N. Main St., Layton, 385-888-9531, wellersbistro.com

Best Asian-Inspired Omelets

Uncle Jeffi’s Place

Uncle Jeffi’s Place is Anny Sooksri and Jeff Kelsch’s latest restaurant venture. (The pair also founded Tea Rose Diner, Tea Rose Thai Express, Chabaar Beyond Thai and FAV Bistro—located next door to Uncle Jeffi’s.) While Uncle Jeffi’s serves all the classic breakfast and lunch options, it’s their Thai breakfasts—such as Thai fried egg, Kai Jeaw Moo Sup and the Thai omelet—that beckon those wanting to free themselves from eggs over easy. These dishes are lighter than trad American diner fare— and healthier—but still so tasty. They open at 7 a.m. 1968 E. Murray Holladay Road, Holladay, bestthaifoodinutah.com/uncle-jeffis

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Best Noodles in the Making

PICKS

COURTESY PHOTO

Nuan’s Thai Kitchen

CW STAFF

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DRINKS

READERS’

Best Brewery Food

Best Canned Cocktail

Grid City Beer Works is more than just a brewery; it’s a gastronomic experience that combines creativity, local ingredients, and, of course, exceptional craft beer. From burgers to tacos, to even Brussels sprouts, Grid City’s varied menu offers a diverse eating experience that goes far beyond your typical pub fare, including decadent sandwiches and many vegan options. 333 W. 2100 South, SLC, 801-906-8390, gridcitybeerworks.com

Made with local grains and distilled in house, Sugar House Distillery’s brilliant tasting vodka is the perfect base to help drive the delicious raspberry lemonade combo that makes this canned cocktail the perfect summer refresher or winter dining companion. On ice or straight with crisp bubbles, this one always satisfies. 212 S. West Temple, Ste.14, South Salt Lake, 801-726-0403, sugarhousedistillery.net

Grid City Beer Works

PICKS Best Bloody Mary

Piper Down Pub

2. Red Rock Brewing Co. 3. Hopkins Brewing Co.

Best Brunch Cocktails

Prohibition

Omar is both co-owner and working barista, giving caffeine-starved downtowners their daily fix served up with his warm smile. His friendliness and calm belies the toughness of a year his business has faced, what with construction and other environmental factors out of his control. Still, he has created an inviting space for those seeking refuge from the outside world, pouring a lovely cuppa to soothe your soul. 177 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-410-4734, facebook.com/thepeoplescoffee 2. Joanna, Coffee Garden 3. Hanna, Picnic Café

Best Beer Selection—Brewery or Brew Pub

Templin Family (TF) Brewing

When you spend as much time paying attention to the tiny details in the brewing process, people are bound to notice. From exquisite old-world lagers to award winning IPAs and sours ales, the house that Kevin Templin built has put Utah on the world beer map, creating a huge demand for the TF brand from inside and outside of Utah. 936 S. 300 West, SLC, 385-270-5972, tfbrewing.com 2. Fisher Brewing Co. 3. Bewilder Brewing Co.

Best Beer Selection—Club or Restaurant

The Bayou

Few used to notice how many beers a pub or restaurant had. You just showed up and drank what was available. Then the Bayou debuted in 2001 and advertised a 200-plus beer menu, and people have been clamoring for their suds ever since. From classic American standards to the rarest European ales and lagers, Mark and Kileen Alston keep this institution’s eclectic beer list fresh and innovative. 645 S. State, SLC, 801-961-8400, utahbayou.com

Cans with a message: Salt Flats Brewing

Best Cocktail Bitters

Bitters Lab

Owner Andrea Latimer has changed the way we taste local cocktails. The former cake designer’s innovative approach to designing bitters has changed the way we experience flavors and extracts. Each small batch bitter is handcrafted with the highest quality local ingredients. With flavors like barrel-aged apricot vanilla and habanero lime, it’s no wonder these are a yearly favorite. Sold in multiple locations or by subscription, bitterslab.com 2. Honest John Bitters 3. Grandeur View Bitters

READERS’

PICKS

Best Brewery Can Art

Salt Flats Brewery Save the Lake Pilsner

2. Slackwater 3. Beerhive Pub

Best Boba Tea

Space Tea

One of Space Tea’s mantras is giving back to the community. They host Small Business Sundays, where they invite five local businesses to be vendors at no cost during store hours, and they donate bubble tea to three local classrooms a month. Oh, yeah, and they also serve insane boba tea that looks like it’s from another galaxy. The Big Bang (strawberry matcha latte) or Otter Space (soft serve with milk tea and black sugar boba) are musts. 1085 S. State, SLC, 385-528-0141, spaceteaslc.com 2. Tea Bar 3. Xing Fu Tang

With the Great Salt Lake at its lowest level in recorded history, the message is clear: Save the Lake! The message of its fragility can be subtle as a sticker or boisterous as a beer can. Luckily for us, Salt Flats Brewing went with the latter. To help bring awareness to this crisis, Salt Flats will donate 5% of every case sold to local support for preserving the Great Salt Lake. That’s a beer we can all get behind. Multiple locations, saltflatsbeer.com 2. Epic Brewing Co. Chasing Ghosts IPA 3. Proper Brewing Co. Blizzard Wizzard

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Omar, The People’s Coffee

2. Lucky 13 3. Gracie’s

2. Purgatory Bar 3. Ivy & Varley

2. Ogden’s Own Distillery Porters Huckleberry Lemonade 3. Beehive Distilling Moscow Mule

COURTESY PHOTO

Best Barista

The Bloody Piper is the most unique of Piper Down’s bloody offerings. Created with chipotle vodka and topped with Guinness beer, which helps dial down the spiciness a little, this signature bloody mary is absolutely satisfying. A masterful use of horseradish, Worcestershire and garlic— make this as mild or spicy as you’d like. Add bacon and other condiments to this breakfast classic, and you’ve got a meal in a glass. 1492 S. State, SLC, 801-468-1492, piperdownpub.com

DEREK CARLISLE

Piper Down’s Bloody Piper

Fancy a Michelada constructed with house made Chipotle Bloody Mary mix? Or what about a coffee cocktail, crafted with bourbon cold brew, hazelnut liquor, cinnamon bark, salted caramel cold brew and whipped cream? Yeah, our mouths are watering, too. Discover these and other brunch libations before all of the other CW readers beat you to them. 151 E. 6100 South, SLC, 801-281-4852, prohibitionutah.com

Sugar House Distillery Raspberry Lemonade

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DRINKS

READERS’

Utah has a reputation for its coffee “teetotalers.” But that thought only makes those who do drink coffee all the more passionate about supporting their local java joints. Familyowned Bjorn’s has grown, since starting in 2008, to three locations, all with drive-thru windows designed to be fast and efficient. Customers can order a variety of tasty morning drinks with minimal stress. And that’s how you grow a coffee business in a “teetotaling” state. Locations on State Street, Foothill Drive and Highland Drive, bjornsbrew.com 2. Java Jo’s 3. Beans & Brews Coffeehouse

PICKS Best Drive-Thru Coffee Shop

Bjorn’s Brew

COURTESY PHOTO

Authentic European bakery in the heart of Downtown Salt Lake City!

Happy customers at Bjorn’s Brew speedy drive-thru

Best Sit-Down Coffee Shop

Best Distillery

It’s a special thing when you find a coffee shop where you can just sit down for a while, get some refills, work on your laptop or hang out with a book or a friend. The People’s Coffee is that place—a coffee shop for people being people. Order one of their monthly specials (fruit-spiked Americano, anyone?) with some of their very pretty avo toast, and just chill. 177 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-410-4734, instagram.com/thepeoplescoffeeutah

Utah’s world-renowned distillery is also the favorite of readers this year. Not only does High West produce some of the incredible bourbons and ryes, they also offer one of the best experiences while drinking and dining. From Park City’s Ski-in gastro distillery to their mountain resort-style Wanship experience, it’s no wonder High West is a favorite. 27649 Old Lincoln Highway, Wanship, 435-649-8300, highwest.com

The People’s Coffee

2. Tres Gatos Coffee 3. Sugar House Coffee

2. Beehive Distilling 3. Waterpocket Distillery

Best Craft Cocktails

Best Distillery Tour

This tiny craft lounge promotes a relaxed atmosphere without being intimidating. We love the innovative cocktails that are nothing short of exceptional. The talented mixologists possess artistry that lacks pretentiousness and enhances the overall craft cocktail experience. Water Witch promises a non-stuffy cocktail journey that’s perfect for any level of cocktail enthusiast. 163 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-462-0967, waterwitchbar.com

There are distillery tours, then there are distillery events. The 45 minutes spent at High West’s gorgeous Wanship distillery, located at Blue Sky Ranch, combines old-world esthetics with cutting-edge tech to provide a well-rounded whiskey experience. Oh, and did we mention the whiskey sensory tasting at the end? 27649 Old Lincoln Highway, Wanship, 435-649-8300, highwest.com

Water Witch 328 W. 200 South | 801.322.2424 | vosen.com CLOSED CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS Monday- Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm Saturday 8:00am - 4:30pm |Sunday 9:00am - 3:00pm

High West Distillery

2. Prohibition 3. Bar-X

High West Distillery

2. New World Distillery 3. Dented Brick Distillery

Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm Saturday, 9am - 4pm 1597 S. 1100 E. Salt Lake City 801.875.8923 www.vivejuicery.com

RESERVE YOUR HOLIDAY PLATTERS IN ADVANCE!

FOOD • JAPANESE WHISKEY • COCKTAILS

CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES!

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• LUNCH • DINNER • COCKTAILS

Best Frappe

Best Horchata

As if the first sip of a blended coffee wasn’t blissful enough, at Bjorn’s Brew your frappe order can help a furry friend in need. Fill up a punch card and when you redeem it, Bjorn’s Brew makes a $1 donation to local animal charities like Nuzzles, Best Friends, Therapy Animals of Utah and Salt Lake County Animal Services. With frappe flavors including mocha, rich caramel and vanilla chai, you have plenty of reasons to collect punches and help the pups. Multiple locations, bjornsbrew.com

The horchata at Facil Taqueria—not your average neighborhood taqueria!—is the unicorn of the beverage world—rare, magical and utterly enchanting. Each cinnamon-spiked sip whispers sweet tales to your taste buds. It’s like the beverage version of a warm hug—comforting and utterly delightful. The ricey richness is the stuff of legend, leaving you wondering what’s in the drink that keeps you coming back for more. 4429 S. 2950 East, SLC, Holladay, 801-878-9969, faciltaqueria.com

Bjorn’s Brew

Facil Taqueria

2. Tres Gatos Coffee 3. Beans & Brews Coffeehouse

2. Barrio 3. Real Taqueria

Best Hard Seltzer

Best Kombucha

People like “simple” when it comes to their hard seltzers—or so we thought. There’s no denying that these fruity and sometimes herbal beverages make very easy drinking, but when CW readers crave a boozy spritz, nothing compares to the real fruit and the high ABV of Grid City’s snappy adult beverages. With flavors like Rosé, Cucumber Lime and even Hoppy Hard Seltzer, there’s little wonder why these beverages shine. 333 W. 2100 South, SLC, 801-906-8390, gridcitybeerworks.com

Hannah (aka Han) started brewing kombucha in the closet of her dorm, selling her first batch in 2018. Han’s Kombucha is a lively, effervescent elixir that tickles both the palate and the imagination. You can visit their taproom where they host trivia nights, as well as kombucha for a cause, and other themed events! Han’s Cheers Queers, Ginger Hibiscus, Raspberry Rose, Grapefruit Rosemary are just some of our favorite flavors. 370 Aspen Ave., SLC, 385-227-8240, hkbrewing.com

2. Shades Brewing 3. Kiitos Brewing

2. Mamachari Kombucha 3. Renourish Kombucha Tap Room

Grid City Beer Works Han’s Kombucha Fueling Salt Lake City & Their Furry Friends Since 1996 5 Convenient locations visit JavaJoes.com

THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS

READERS’

PICKS Best Hard Cider

Mountain West Cider

Mountain West’s Ruby Hard Cider

Utah’s cider scene is still young compared to its older, beerfocused siblings, and it’s a credit to the quality of Mountain West’s offerings that their lineup is a Salt Lake staple, from the can’tgo-wrong Ruby (or its “Ruby’s Gay” label in June) to the killer single-varietal Elliot Gold. For the more experimental, try one of the rotating special releases on tap at the cider house. 425 N. 400 West, SLC, 801-935-4147, mountainwestcider.com 2. Scion Cider Bar 3. Second Summit Hard Cider Co.

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READERS’

Here’s looking at you, Ogden Own Distillery’s Five Wives Vodka!

Best Local Vodka

Best Mango Lassi

Distilled to perfection, Five Wives Vodka continually boasts unparalleled purity and smoothness. Its crystal-clear appearance alludes to the pristine Ogden Canyon water that delivers a clean and crisp taste, with subtle hints of citrus and a touch of sweetness that tease the back of the throat. Whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as the base for cocktails, this vodka effortlessly calls to CW readers and once again, you have answered. 615 W. Stockman Way, Ogden, 801-675-3204, ogdensown.com

After chowing down on all of the delicious spices and tastes of Indian cuisine at downtown’s Himalayan Kitchen, there’s nothing better than slurping up a mango lassi to cool off your taste buds. A refreshing yogurt-based drink, mango lassis are made by blending mangos, sugar and milk, leaving behind a rich and creamy texture that make it a popular dish from Mumbai all the way to Utah. 360 S. State, SLC, 801-328-2077, himalayankitchen.com

Ogden’s Own Distillery Five Wives Vodka

PICKS

Best Local Spirit Overall

Ogden’s Own Distillery Five Wives Vodka

2. Dented Brick Distillery Craft Vodka 3. Salt City Vodka

2. The Kathmandu 3. Mumbai House

Best Local Whiskey

High West Distillery Bourye

This Utah favorite has only been around for 13 years. In that time, many whiskeys have come around, but none have matched the happy marriage of this bourbon and rye whiskey blend. It’s the perfect interplay of sweet and spicy, with notes of honey, toasted oak and a subtle peppery kick. It exemplifies the art of whiskey crafting, offering a unique and memorable tasting experience year-round. Distillery: 27649 Old Lincoln Hwy., Wanship, 435-649-8300; Saloon: 703 Park Ave., Park City, 435-649-8300; highwest.com

2. High West Distillery A Midwinter Night’s Dram 3. Sugar House Distillery Vodka

Best Michelada

Best Local Gin

What truly sets this Michelada apart is the choice of beer—a high-quality, crisp lager that marries seamlessly with the balanced mix of tomato juice, lime, and assorted spices, creating a tangy and savory base that stimulates your pre-brunch cravings. A must-try for anyone seeking the best of this beloved Mexican cocktail. 3754 Center View Way, West Jordan, 801-878-9439, luckysirondoor.com

Gins are hot right now. We’d dare say that there’s a “gin-aissance” happening right now. And one of the leaders of this revolution has been a regional favorite, Beehive’s own Jack Rabbit Gin. This spirit is bold with juniper, sage and rose petal and lemon peel. Trust us, you don’t even need a tonic or quinine with stuff like this. 2245 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake, 385-259-0252, beehivedistilling.com

Lucky’s Iron Door Roadhouse

2. Ogden’s Own Distillery Madam Pattirini Gin 3. Waterpocket Distillery Temple Of The Moon Gin

Best Liquor Selection—Distillery

Best Local Rum

Dented Brick Distillery

PICKS

Best Liquor Selection— Club or Restaurant

Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining

Dented Brick Distillery Some say vodkas and gins are easy to make. Maybe, but craft these in a way that causes a double take as Premium Rum you peer into your cocktail glass, and you’ve probably found a Dented Brick spirit. On top of that, you’ll find a house-sourced tequila, malt whiskey and even a glitter pineapple rum. Yeah, this distillery with a kaleidoscope of flavors and styles has all the goods, and readers are finding it out. 3100 S. Washington St., South Salt Lake, 801-883-9837, dentedbrick.com 2. Beehive Distilling 3. Ogden’s Own Distillery

Blue Iguana

READERS’

Beehive Distilling Jack Rabbit Gin

2. Facil Taqueria 3. El Meño’s

Best Margarita

With six unique margarita concoctions and eight different tequilas on the menu, the Blue Iguana excels with this lime and tequila classic. Looking for something a little snappy? The jalapeno margarita provides that much needed hint of fuego. Also, try upending a bottle of cerveza in the Coronarita for the perfect beer/margarita hybrid. Oh mi! 165 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-533-8900, 2. New World Distillery Ogden Nine Rails Bourbon Whiskey blueiguanarestaurant.net 3. Ogden’s Own Distillery Porters Peach Whiskey 2. Taqueria 27 Holladay 3. Tres Hombres Mexican Grill and Cantina

DEREK CARLISLE

This perennial favorite continues to shine with its crystal-clear appearance and always promises a clean and pure taste experience. Five Wives always delivers a smooth, silky texture and a subtle sweetness, making it ideal for sipping neat or mixing in cocktails. It blends seamlessly with various mixers, enhancing the flavors without overpowering them. Whether enjoyed in a classic martini or a trendy mixed drink, this vodka consistently is a go-to choice for Utahns. 615 W. Stockman Way, Ogden, 801-675-3204, ogdensown.com

Himalayan Kitchen

Whiskey Street’s immense liquor selection has the cocktail hour covered

When looking for a rum that offers rich and complex flavors that captivates the senses, Dented Brick’s Premium Rum delivers the goods for CW readers. Presenting a delightful blend of caramel, vanilla, and oak, with a subtle hint of tropical fruits, it’s an impressive spirit that enhances your tiki beverages or pool-side sippers. 3100 S. Washington St., South Salt Lake, 801-883-9837, dentedbrick.com

Searching for that crazy gin that you found in Spain or that rare unicorn of a whiskey that you’ve only been able to read about? Whiskey Street’s library of spirits, libations and liqueurs conquers all preconceived notions about potions and lands the discerning customer in a cozy atmosphere where every spiritus flavor is possible every day (or night) of the year. 323 S. Main, SLC, 801- 433-1371, whiskeystreet.com

2. Waterpocket Distillery Anejo Rum 3. Outlaw Distillery Spice Rum

2. White Horse Spirits & Kitchen 3. Lake Effect

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Best Mixologist

Scott Gardner, Water Witch

Creating innovative and delicious cocktails with a deep knowledge of spirits, liqueurs and mixers, Scott Gardner is well known for his magical concoctions that utilize his wealth of knowledge to craft cocktails that are both balanced and flavorful while also being a feast for the eyes. But stand back: many of his creations include flames. 63 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-462-0967, waterwitchbar.com 2. Harrison Archibald, White Horse Spirits & Kitchen 3. Bijan Ghiai, Urban Hill

Best Non-Dairy Latte

The People’s Coffee

Known for their hospitable baristas, excellent coffee and craveable treats (their avocado toast with blackberries, jalapenos and honey stands out), The People’s Coffee, located on the corner of 2nd & 2nd in downtown SLC, is serving up hot and cold caffeine just the way the people like them. The vegan/lactose intolerant among us don’t want dairy anywhere near our java, so let your barista offer ways to lighten and sweeten your brew and be dairy free evermore! 177 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-410-4734, facebook.com/thepeoplescoffee 2. Tres Gatos Coffee 3. Old Cuss Cafe

Best Smoothies

Brass Smoothies

Talk about heart in a blender! Tucked behind Pizza Nono in the 9th & 9th neighborhood, Brass has a decidedly local vibe—and it shows in its smoothies, crafted from locally sourced produce by friendly baristas knowledgeable enough to cater to any dietary restriction. Try the Beetlejuice with beets, pineapple, ginger and mixed berries with a scoop of one of several in-house adaptogen blends, or opt for the signature Brass Monkey with peanut butter and banana. 925 E. 900 South, Ste. 103, SLC, 801-208-6542, brasssmoothies.com 2. Protein Foundry 3. The Juice Shop

Best Tea Service

Tea Zaanti

Calling all tea fanatics! Discover your next favorite sip from 85+ varieties of premium loose-leaf tea, wine and espresso or build your own charcuterie board from their market. This is not your typical cafe. Beyond their exceptional tea, TZ also hosts a variety of engaging events, creating a vibrant community hub for tea enthusiasts to connect. We love their dreamy dog-friendly patio. 1944 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-477-5323, teazaanti.com 2. The Grand America Hotel 3. The Tea Grotto

Best Wine Selection

BTG Wine Bar

Get the best of Caffé Molise without all the fuss of a big dining-out experience. Maybe even snag a table to yourself for a solo date night, indulge in some appetizers from upstairs and dig into the wine menu. You can order a flight to sample some of their vast menu—you can go for bubbles or blushes, or even orange wines if you’re riding that wave. 404 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-359-2814, btgwinebar.com

With a seasonal custom cocktail menu designed by master mixologist Francesco Lafranconi, Flanker Kitchen’s tiki experience draws on the tastes of the islands and is inspired by classic tiki drinks. Each beverage has a distinctive presentation and vessel that is served from Flanker’s tiki speakeasy, Paradise Parlor. The perfect immersive tiki cocktail experience. 6 N. Rio Grande St., Ste. 35, SLC, 801-683-7070, flankerslc.com 2. Acme Bar Co. 3. Why KiKi

READERS’

PICKS Best Tiki Drink

Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club

2. Urban Hill 3. Casot

Best Ale

Bewilder Brewing Co., Bewilder ESB

It’s tiki time at Flanker Kitchen and Sporting Club

Best beer categories are tough to judge. Beer lovers have their favorites, and we’re sure they’re all wonderful, but Bewilder’s ESB (Extra Special Bitter) is the complete package. It’s malty without being overly sweet; bitter, but only in a complementary fashion with a 5.0 percent ABV that’s interesting enough to keep beer lovers coming back for more. Available in 16-ounce cans and draft. 445 S. 400 West, SLC, 385-528-3840, bewilderbrewing.com 2. Templin Family Brewing Granary Kellerbier 3. Epic Brewing Co. Brainless On Peaches

Best IPA

Squatters Brewery Juicy IPA IPAs are very polarizing. Some are massively bitter, others tropical and fruity with new hops varieties. Leave it to SLC’s oldest brewery brand to find the happy medium that appeals to both camps. Packed with bright, citrus aromas and notes of ripe stone fruit, this unfiltered Northeast-style IPA finishes smooth, creamy with no fruit or flavorings added. A pleasure to drink. 147 W. 300 South, SLC, 801-363-2739; Taproom and Beer Store:1763 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-466-8855; utahbeers.com 2. 2 Row Brewing Feeling Hazy 3. Red Rock Brewing Co. Fukiphino

Best Lager/Pilsner

Fisher Brewing Co. Fisher Beer

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DRINKS

Best Overall Beer, All Categories

Templin Family (TF) Brewing Ferda

It’s hard to resurrect a brand; not to mention a brand from the early/mid-20th century. When Fisher Brewing Co. was re-created in 2017, the one beer the new owners vowed would always be available was founder Albert Fisher’s beloved Fisher Beer. This Germanstyle lager has great toasty cracker flavors with some sweet dough. The hops are assertive with grass and herbal bitterness. 320 W. 800 South, SLC, 801- 487-2337, fisherbeer.com

This is a beer Ferda friends, Ferda team and Ferda beer lovers who love a full-flavored beer. This West Coast-style Double IPA checks all of the boxes as far as CW readers are concerned. It provides well-balanced flavors, melding light cereal grains and strong yet restrained hop fruitiness with a low-key alcohol presence. Smooth, warm and satisfying, it’s Ferda taste buds! 936 S. 300 West, SLC, 385-270-5972, tfbrewing.com

2. Bohemian Brewery Czech Pilsner 3. Templin Family Brewing Helles

2. Fisher Brewing Co. Fisher Beer 3. Bewilder Brewing Co. Kolsch

Best Sour Beer

Shades Brewing Kveik Pina Colada

Shades has been pioneering its own path in the sour beer world. Instead of harshly tart or oaky sours, Shades has turned their specialty Kveik sours into a thing of beauty. The Kviek sour base has helped turn a simple sour ale into a delicious pina colada beverage that is in many cases better than the original cocktail. With a decent amount of pineapple and coconut that is full and round, this ale is beyond drinkable. 154 W. Utopia Ave., South Salt Lake, 435200-3009, shadesbrewing.beer 2. Kiitos Brewing Blackberry Sour 3. Fisher Brewing Co. Lemonade Stand

Best Stout

Kiitos Brewing Coconut Stout

Stouts used to be basic, roasty and dry. Then brewers started to add flavors to complement them; some flavors were great, others not so much. CW’s readers have found that coconut is their favorite flavor combo in their stouts; and Kiitos’ Coconut Stout absolutely fits the bill. The sweetness from the coconut weaves seamlessly with the natural roasted coffee, cocoa and char from malt. This was a beer that was meant to be. 608 W. 700 South, SLC, 801-215-9165, kiitosbrewing.com 2. Epic Brewing Co. Big Bad Baptista 3. SaltFire Brewing Co. Dirty Chai Stout

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What Did We Miss? Best Caffeinated Instagram to Follow

Tres Gatos Coffee

Not everyone in Salt Lake drinks coffee, but if you follow Tres Gatos Coffee on Instagram, you’ll feel like you do. Their posts are a high-energy double shot of enthusiasm and pride in operating a small business. You can’t help but be excited about their housemade chai, Mexican mocha and flavored drinks. The tantalizing photos of freshly made baked goods beckon travelers far and wide to old-town Midvale to their drive-thru window. Follow Tres Gatos and catch the wave. 7567 S. Main St., Midvale, 801-403-8351, IG @tresgatoscoffee

Best Neighborhood Wine Bar

Casot

That a wine bar is thriving in a residential, Salt Lake City neighborhood is reason enough to celebrate. Nestled in the 15th & 15th commercial cluster, Casot is in a class of its own. With an interior of red brick, exposed joists, skylights and a wall-size antique bar from Italy, Casot is not what you would call “a watering hole.” Boomers enjoy “New World” and “Old World” wines while there’s craft beers and ciders for Gen X and Millennials. 1508 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-441-2873, casotwinework.com

Best Sake to Join Local Brewing Scene

Tsuki Sake

Certified as a sake sommelier through the Sake School of America, Jill Watenabe has gone on to create Tsuki Sake, Utah’s first and only premium, craft American sake company. Balancing traditional Japanese brewing techniques with a modern American twist, Watenabe is creating unique sakes for Utah. Flavors include Harvest Moon White Peach Nigori, Desert Moon Citrus Prickly Pear and the region’s only sparkling draft sake. 385-450-7253, tsukisake.com

Staff Picks Best Big Bad Beer

Epic Brewing

Starting in 2017, the team at Epic Brewing released a new version of their popular Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout. This series has been a hit among craft beer lovers and has patrons clamoring for more. This year, Epic’s master brewers concocted six crazy-good new creations—S’mores, Cocquito, Naked Baptist, Brewers Keep, Blueberry Pie and Chocolate Caramel. 825 S. State, SLC, 801-906-0123, epicbrewing.com

Best Schooner and Sushi Night

O’Shucks / Ahh Sushi

While most Park City bars close during the offseason, O’Shucks has been committed to remaining open every day (aside from pandemicmandated shutdowns, that is) ever since Bruce and Deb Corrigan opened up shop in 1994. They are known for their great breakfasts, sizable sushi menu and of course, the $3 Local’s Night Schooners. For an affordable night out for dinner and drinks, this is the place. Multiple locations, oshucks-ahhsushi.com

Best Distillery Menu

Eight Settlers Restaurant & Distillery

In addition to paying homage to the pioneer roots of Cottonwood Heights, Eight Settlers performs another vital service by proving that distilleries can serve up an exciting menu. Where else in Salt Lake Valley can you enjoy octopus, elk, salmon and airline chicken with a variety of in-house distilled spirits? Try the Butler Blossom cocktail that pairs with all the dishes, or go for a Devil’s Gate Bourbon Old Fashioned. Real pioneers, though, take their whiskey straight. It’s the ideal pairing with the bourbon-braised pork shank. 7321 Canyon Centre Pkwy., Cottonwood Heights, 385-900-4315, eightsettlersdistillery.com

Best Coffee and Couture

Old Cuss Coffee & Market

Come one, come all. This community cafe welcomes all to its eclectic marketplace. Oozing with a vintage general-store atmosphere, you’ll feel cozily at home. Local vendors offer everything from clothing to glassware to art and collectibles. Double your pleasure by ordering a cup of specialty java from Marcell Coffee Roasters along with a full breakfast or lunch. Brent’lee and chef/owner Chandler Bailey’s love for fresh vegetables launched the Old Cuss as a vegan eatery, but nowadays, you’ll find local eggs, dairy and cheeses on the menu. So, come on in and sit a spell. 2285 S. Main, South Salt Lake

Best ‘Dirty’ Chai

King’s Peak Coffee

When you want quality spicy chai, King’s Peak has you covered—make it a dirty chai for us, please. They make just about everything from scratch, including their chai. KPC also has homemade kombucha on tap, and their bougie avocado toast is a must try. KPC is serious about sustainability and relationships with their farmers. Make sure to say hi to Carlos, Sadie and Fred for us; they are the friendliest staff around. 412 S. 700 West, SLC, 385-267-1890, kingspeakcoffee.com

Best Turkish Coffee

Kahve Café

At Kahve Café, you’ll be transported to a Mediterranean oasis, indulging in the finest Turkish coffee and teas. The menu pays tribute to the rich Turkic culture, which has thrived as nomads, finding solace wherever their journeys led. True to the Turkish Proverb listed on the website that says: “One cup of coffee creates a 40-year friendship,” you feel like family when you walk through the doors of the cozy Victorian home. 57 S. 600 East, SLC, 801-888-0354, kahvecafeslc.com

Best ‘Wining’ After the Show

IG Winery

After feeling all the feels at Cedar City’s Utah Shakespeare Festival, there’s no place better to “wine” down than IG Winery. Sample the fabulous wines while discussing the Bard’s prose and verse. You’ll also find enticing cocktails and small bites on the menu. And do say hello to Shimmer—the sculpted vineyard siren who adds to the beauty of IG Winery from a perch near the wine wall. Cedar City has gussied itself up! 59 W. Center St., Cedar City, 435-867-9463, igwinery.com

CW STAFF

PICKS

Best Beer & Ballgame Views

Best Seasonal Sours

UTOG Brewing Co.

RoHa Brewing Co.

Play ball: UTOG Brewing Co.

Established in 2019, UTOG Brewing Co. has been proudly serving Ogdenites from their spacious bar for years. The patio may be the most interesting in the state, as it overlooks the outfield of Lindquist Field, home of the Ogden Raptors, part of the Pioneer Baseball League. UTOG beer is expanding south of Weber County and can be found on most bar taps and fridges around. 2331 Grant Ave., Ogden, 801-689-3476, utogbrewing.com

RoHa is great at keeping things simple for their customers—they have 10 stable beers, a rotating seasonal brew and two seltzer selections—and they also excel in keeping sours straightforward and tasteful. Their Pucker Sour catalog includes the Bumpy (raspberry), Dimple (blood orange) and Fuzzy (peach) and are worth a mix-and-match six pack to take home or cold glass at their bar. 30 E. Kensington Ave., SLC, 385-227-8982, rohabrewing.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Pucker up with RoHa sours.

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DRINKS

THE

UTAH’S BEST DANCE CLUBS - PATIO - LIVE DJS - AMAZING FOOD

TWISTSLC

21+ | 32 Exchange Place | Dowtown SLC

NEW FOOD MENU!

THEEXCHANGESLC

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BRUNCH SAT & SUN 11AM-3PM

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DRINKS Best Beer From Local Friends

Hopkins Brewing Co.

Chad Hopkins, founder of Hopkins Brewing Co. and Sugar House native, has been a restaurateur for more than 20 years. His passion for homebrewing, combined with his knowledge of the restaurant industry, gave rise to his hopping neighborhood brewery that’s known for delicious eats and beer. Along with his rotating taps and small batches, Hopkins also offers other local breweries’ creations (Bewilder, Fisher, RoHa, etc.) via his “Beer From Local Friends” list. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC, 385-528-3275, hopkinsbrewingcompany.com

Best Beer and Burger

Proper Brewing Co.

Best Beer Museum

Beerhive Pub

A staple in the beer community for years, Proper Brewing Co. has been serving up classics like the Lei Effect, made with passion fruit, guava, coriander and salt and keeping it fresh with the newer Whispers of the Primordial Sea, a smoked helles lager with pineapple. Patrons at the Granary District location can scamper next door to sip their beer with an award-winning Proper Burger. Our faves include the vegan DaVinci and the Rising Sun with kimchi. Multiple locations, properbrewingco.com

Museums can come in all shapes and sizes, but they rarely come with dozens of tap handles. Del Vance’s beer-specific pub not only offers a “locals only” draft list, it also houses the state’s largest collection of beer memorabilia and artwork you’ll find outside of the state archives or private collections. Walking around the historic pub sipping a pint is not only educational, it’s also cozy and fun. Did we mention the hundreds of beers? 128 S. Main, Salt Lake City, 801-364-4268

Best Wallet Thank You

The Ruin

Best Caffeinated Art

There’s nothing worse than thinking you’ve got an evening covered only to discover your bar and food tab exceeds your credit card limit. Embarrassing. The cure is at The Ruin where you find extraordinary cocktails but without the pocket pinch. Same goes for their food service. Lean into a South-of-the-border plate and wash it down with a signature Mexspresso Martini, then do it again. Because you can. And again. P.S. Charcuterie at The Ruin is not to be missed. 159 S. Main, SLC, 801-869-3730, ruinslc.com

Mestizo Coffeehouse

People go hot and cold on their coffees. They also go hot and cold on their politics or with their personal affection for a piece of art. At Mestizo you get it all—a near west-side treasure that is home to a true community of folks who care about their environs, who are vocal about it and who are not at all shy to open your wider senses to the colorful expressions of artistry that adorns both interior and exterior walls. Not your typical grab-and-go shop, Mestizo grabs you, hugs you, in ways that make you feel welcome and comfortable. 631 N. Temple, SLC, 801-596-0500, mestizocoffeehouse.com

Family-friendly

And New

elevated menu! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK @ THEFIDDLERSELBOW_SLC | 1063 E 2100, SUGARHOUSE

SALT LAKE CITY’S

ONLY GAY SPORTS BAR!

NIGHTLY EVENTS + TAILGATE DRAG BRUNCH EVERY SATURDAY! @ THELOCKERROOMSLC OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 1063 E 2100, SUGARHOUSE LOCALLY-OWNED

coppercommon.com • 111 E. Broadway, Suite 190, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Open 7 days a week at 5pm. Sunday brunch from 10:30am-3:00pm

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NOW SERVING BRUNCH EVERY SUNDAY

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE Best African Restaurant

Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant & Market

Mahider has always excelled at creating a singular experience that transports diners abroad. The menu leans into the Ethiopian custom of using only floppy injera flatbread as utensils, which is often a nice change of pace for local diners. On top of that, you can’t beat their combination plates—everything is always vibrant, colorful and delicious at Mahider. 1465 S. State, SLC, 801-975-1111, mahiderethiopian.com

READERS’ If you’ve been in search for Utah’s best bar bingo, A Bar Named Sue is where your quest should begin and end. With complimentary pool (and darts and pingpong and jukebox), a variety of beers on tap at affordable prices, delicious pub grub (they serve excellent food, really! We recommend the garlic chicken Parmesan bites) and a bingo jackpot that can reach over $2,000, it’s a no-brainer that either location for A Bar Named Sue should be your watering hole. 3928 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, 801-274-5578; 8136 S. State, Midvale, 801-566-3222; abarnamedsue.com 2. Why KiKi 3. Piper Down Pub

PICKS Best Bar Bingo

A Bar Named Sue

2. Oromian Restaurant 3. Kafe Mamai

Best American Diner

Ruth’s Diner

A perennial winner since our first Best of Utah in 1991, Ruth’s Diner has it all: history, canyon setting, patio, live music ... oh yeah, and the food is superb. Whether it’s breakfast you’re wanting or a sandwich, burger or salad, you can’t go wrong. Add to all this the appetizers, desserts and Ruth’s Mile High biscuit, and you are enjoying one of Utah’s unalloyed treasures of American fare. 4160 E. Emigration Canyon Road, SLC, 801-582-5807, ruthsdiner.com 2. The Park Café 3. Vertical Diner

Best Appetizer Menu

White Horse Spirits & Kitchen Bingo at Bar Named Sue on Highland

ALIZE HARDING

2. Squatters Pub Brewery 3. Ivy & Varley

Best Apres Ski

Porcupine Pub & Grille

A warm bowl of Porcupine’s creamy chickennoodle soup after a day on the slopes is a rite of passage for any local worth their salt (those in the know ask for it with a side of Hellfire sauce). Wash it down with one of 24 beers on tap as you and your crew debate over who had the best pow run, who came this close to landing that double rodeo and whose turn it is to buy the next pitcher. 3698 Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights, 801-942-5555, porcupinepub.com 2. The Hog Wallow Pub 3. Molly Green’s Restaurant & Bar

Best Bar Bathroom

Best Bar Beyond Downtown SLC

Best Bar in Downtown Salt Lake City

For a place as swanky as Lake Effect with their tall ceilings, plush booths and intricate decor, is it at all surprising they didn’t spare any expense when it came to designing their bathrooms? The atmosphere is a one-of-one downtown experience and feels like big city livin’. This blurb will never be memorialized on the walls of their restrooms—it doesn’t complement the feng shui—but we see you, Lake Effect! 155 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-532-2068, lakeeffectslc.com

Secluded among pine trees at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon, The Hog Wallow Pub is a groovy spacious tavern beyond downtown, a landing zone for those who hike and ski in the Cottonwood canyons, where bands like Pixie and the Partygrass Boys are known to get things rocking. When it comes to funfilled dance floors, cozy nooks, a game of pool and a charming patio, Hog Wallow is where you want to be. 3200 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, Cottonwood Heights, 801-733-5567, thehogwallow.com

A lesser bar would simply lean on its excellent location without putting much effort into bettering itself. Gracie’s, on the other hand, has taken the blessing of a fine Downtown location and capitalized with a fabulous menu of bar bites and signature cocktails. Not to mention their great calendar of events taking place year-round. If you’re looking for a metropolitan night spot, you can’t do much better than Gracie’s. 326 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-819-7565, graciesslc.com

Lake Effect

2. Quarters Arcade Bar—Downtown 3. White Horse Spirits & Kitchen

The Hog Wallow Pub

2. Ice Haus 3. A Bar Named Sue

Gracie’s

2. Why KiKi 3. Lake Effect

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White Horse continues to dominate in this category. If you’ve not yet discovered the array of bite-size starters and small plates served up at this downtown SLC mainstay, what have you been doing? Don’t limit yourself to charcuterie—dive into the steak tartare. 325 S. Main, SLC, 801-363-0137, whitehorseslc.com

READERS’

Best Bar Patio

Best Breakfast

Gracie’s

The Park Café

PICKS

One of the perks of dining and/or drinking at Gracie’s is the people watching, which is preferably done from the vantage of their rooftop patio. The sights and sounds of downtown Salt Lake blend with the music and chatter of the clientele, and you just can’t beat these vibes around sundown on a summer evening. 326 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-819-7565, graciesslc.com 2. The Hog Wallow Pub 3. Templin Family Brewing

PICKS

The Park Cafe breakfast sandwich

Best Bar Menu

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Best Brazilian Restaurant

No offense to nachos and jalapeño poppers, but some of us prefer our bar food without a side of Tums. Class up your cocktail accouterments at White Horse with the likes of fresh oysters, confit duck wings, grilled gem lettuce salad, short rib French dip or organic salmon. In the mood for something sweet alongside your sips? The bourbon butterscotch pudding can’t be beat. 325 S. Main, SLC, 801-363-0137, whitehorseslc.com

In 2023, R&R is celebrating a decade of dishing up delicious ‘cue and Southern comfort fare across the state. From humble beginnings and a single storefront, R&R has bulged (as have our waistbands) to 12 locations in Utah and Idaho. They’re perhaps best known for pulled pork and ribs, though the brisket tacos—made with chopped brisket, housemade BBQ sauce, coleslaw, cilantro, feta and tomatillo sauce—merit a taste. Multiple locations, randrbbq.com

2. The Bayou 3. Prohibition

2. Pat’s Barbecue 3. SugarHouse Barbeque

What carnivore is not impressed by the sight of servers strolling around a restaurant with skewers of freshly grilled beef, pork and chicken offering you slices of meat to your heart’s content? Rodizio Grill offers traditional Brazilian flavors via rotisserie-grilled meats, glazed pineapple and authentic Brazilian sides. Every patron has a green and red knob to turn the faucet of succulent meats on or off. Multiple locations, rodiziogrill.com

White Horse Spirits & Kitchen

R&R Barbeque

Rodizio Grill

2. Tucanos Brazilian Grill 3. Braza Grill

The Park Cafe has a devout following, which sometimes means a wait for breakfast. But since we know their breakfasts are worth the wait, we will wait. Their potatoes are golden nuggets of pure bliss, as are their pancakes (which can be ordered gluten free) and eggs dishes. Plus, they make the wait more manageable with the offer of free coffee, and in so doing, the wait becomes part of the dining experience. The Park Cafe simply rocks our mornings! 604 E. 1300 South, SLC, 801-487-1670, theparkcafeslc.com 2. Eggs in the City 3. Roots Cafe

Best Bread Bakery

Vosen’s Bread Paradise

What comes to mind when one wanders into Vosen’s and eyes the dinner rolls? Thought bubble: “Gotta have.” And seeing the seeded rolls and baguettes? “Need that in my basket.” What thought does a loaf or any other bakery product create? “I wonder if there is room in my freezer for this.” A visit to Vosen’s will really make you think, and pretty much exclusively about the heavenly bread. 328 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-322-2424, vosen.com 2. Mims SLC 3. Table X bread

JOHN TAYLOR

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere and Gracie’s patio is the place to be.

DEREK CARLISLE

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

Best Breakfast in the Canyon

Ruth’s Diner

We Utahns crave our breakfast food— huevos rancheros, cinnamon roll French toast, pulled pork Benedict or the classic Ruth’s breakfast combo—and we love to enjoy it while smelling the crisp air and listening to the wind whistle through the canyon as snow-fed creeks rush down the mountain. Such reverie on Ruth’s patio first thing in the morning is bound to get your day off to an amazing start. 4160 E. Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, 801-582-5807, ruthsdiner.com 2. Silver Fork Lodge and Restaurant 3. Emigration Brewing Co.

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READERS’

PICKS Best Brewery

Templin Family (TF) Brewing

Regardless of the style of beer they brew, the Templin Family (TF) Brewing seems to excel at every batch of IPA, pilsner, lager, ale, stout, sour and more that goes into their taps, bottles or cans. Chalk it up to the passion and enthusiasm running through their veins. With a taproom and 15-barrel brewhouse in SLC’s Granary District, a spacious patio with communal seating and fire pits, plus a dog friendly attitude, it’s no wonder locals and visitors love this brewery. 936 S. 300 West, SLC, 385- 270-5972, tfbrewing.com

Best Special Occasion Brunch

Best Candy Shop

Best Casual Brunch

This is Win No. 2 this year for executive chef Tyler Stokes (his Sandy eatery, Sunday’s Best, won Best Restaurant Brunch). Provisions’ cozy setting in Millcreek makes it the perfect spot for celebrating any special occasion. Add to that the visual appeal of modern American dishes like organic Mary’s fried chicken waffles, brioche French toast and Niman Ranch flat iron steak and eggs and you almost don’t want to disturb the plate. But you can’t resist. 3364 S. 2300 East, SLC, 801-410-4046, slcprovisions.com

Hatch Family Chocolate has perfected the sweet science of crafting confections that capture hearts and taste buds alike. Their dedication to quality, evident in every velvety truffle and handdipped caramel, shows a genuine love for their art. Their diverse selection is impressive, and you definitely shouldn’t miss out on their handcrafted shakes. Our personal favorite candy? Aztec spice caramel. 376 E. 8th Ave., Ste. A, SLC, 801-532-4912, hatchfamilychocolates.com

Sometimes, on the weekend, you wake up and need a quality breakfast in an eatery that’s set up to handle lots of tables while providing great service. And one that’s got dining options for everyone in your group. Hub & Spoke is that place. It’s got you and yours covered—the greasy staples, the classic plate, the vegan nosh, boozy milkshakes, bloody marys—even coffee refills. 1291 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-487-0698, hubandspokediner.com

2. Sweet Hazel & Co. 3. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

2. Roots Cafe 3. Sunday’s Best

Provisions

2. Fisher Brewing Co. 3. Bohemian Brewery

2. Prohibition 3. The Dodo Restaurant

Hatch Family Hub & Chocolates Spoke Diner

READERS’

PICKS

Best Chinese Restaurant

Mandarin

COURTESY PHOTO

TF Brewing’s inviting patio

Best Brewpub

Best Bar Brunch

Squatters Piper Pub Brewery Down Pub You’d think after 34 years, craft beer fans would have moved on to a craft brewpub that’s newer and shinier. However, that’s not the case with Squatters. Perhaps it’s the return to its roots or reclaiming their original name of Salt Lake Brewing Co.; or maybe it’s simply the great beer. All we know is that the original is still the best. 147 W. 300 South, SLC, 801-363-2739, saltlakebrewingco.com/squatters 2. Red Rock Brewing Co. 3. Level Crossing Brewing Co.

Brunchers can choose between plant-based (vegan Irish breakfast, anyone?) or classic brunch items (the Henry the VIII includes eggs and bangers, baked beans, Canadian bacon and a scotch egg), with numerous offerings to satisfy every member of your party. Piper Down’s midday meal (Saturday and Sunday only, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) is for ages 21+. Full disclosure: the $2 mimosas may or may not cure a hangover. 1492 S. State, SLC, 801-468-1492, piperdownpub.com 2. Lucky 13 3. Gracie’s

Best Restaurant Brunch

Sunday’s Best

Sunday in Sandy used to connote a quiet day filled with church activities. But this playful creation of Michael McHenry and chef Tyler Stokes is rocking Sandy’s world with its all-day brunch menu (8 a.m. til closing—at 3 or 4 p.m. depending on the day). We’re talking BLT Benedicts, smoked-salmon toast, Caviar Me Hard, monkey bread and of course, beautiful beignets. Sunday in Sandy is ready to party— and not just on Sundays, but seven days a week. Bring on the mimosas! 10672 S. State, Sandy, 801-441-3331, brunchmehard.com 2. Hub & Spoke Diner 3. Roots Cafe

Superb Chinese cuisine at the Mandarin

The perennial winner of Best of Utah’s Best Chinese category, Mandarin has a rich history of awards and accolades almost as extensive as the flavors coming out of the kitchen. The Greek-American Skedros family has been operating Mandarin since 1977, and cultivated a great team of culinary chefs to provide Utahns with an unforgettable dining experience. Mandarin serves the traditional classics, as well as creative monthly specials. 348 E. 900 North, Bountiful, 801-298-2406, mandarinutah.com 2. Red Maple Chinese Restaurant 3. Dragon Diner

JOHN TAYLOR

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

OVER 10 YEARS OF BEING THE BEST! THANK YOU TO THE BEST CUSTOMERS AND STAFF

Mondays

BEST

MARGARITA MONDAYS

Tuesdays

RoofTOP patio IN SLC

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH

TEQUILA TUESDAYS

11AM - 2PM

wednesdays

15 flat screen TV’S

WHISKEY WEDNESDAYS

WITH ALL MAJOR SPORTS PACKAGES

thursdays

sundays ADULT TRIVIA 7PM

31 east 400 SOuth • SLC

801-532-7441 • HOURS: 11AM - 2AM THEGREENPIGPUB.COM LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR SPECIALS & EVENTS!

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KARAOKE W/ DJ KIKI 9PM

READERS’

PICKS Best Dog-Friendly Bar Patio

Handle Bar

The vibes at Handle Bar can vary wildly. One day, you find some couples scattered throughout the space, a few solo souls huddled over their pints at the bar. Other times, the place is absolutely poppin’, with parties of all sizes taking over the patio. Dogs are part of the mix and dig the ability to wander about (on a leash), making new friends among those walking on both two and four legs. On a Sunday in spring or fall, that patio full of patrons and their canine friends—those are the best days of all at this Marmalade neighborhood staple. 751 N. 300 West, SLC, 801-953-0588, handlebarslc.com 2. Wasatch Brew Pub 3. Hopkins Brewing Co.

Utah’s Best Escape Artists Dogs days at Handle Bar are the best!

Best Dance Club

Best Chef

Best Cidery

Point at your headphones and mouth, “can’t hear you” ... because that would’ve been a boring conversation anyway. Silent discos are a favorite, not only because of the aforementioned scenario where you can avoid conversation in a socially acceptable way; they’re also winners for being wonderful spaces of self-expression. Check the weekend line and see, to no surprise, why Why KiKi is voted Best Dance Club. Another round of coconut sluts, please. 69 W. 100 South, SLC, 801-641-6115, @whykikibar

Chef Viet Pham has redefined the Utah dining scene not once, but twice. His former eatery, Forage, set the bar for local fine dining up until its closure, and Pretty Bird continues to raise the bar for fast-casual restaurants throughout the state. Pham has also been a stalwart ambassador for Utah’s culinary chops by appearing in several Food Network shows, and he’s just an overall nice guy to hang out with. We’re lucky to have him. prettybirdchicken.com

It seems like Utah went from a hard cider wasteland to a hard cider incubator overnight, when Jeff and Jennifer Carlson took it upon themselves to bring the joy of hard ciders to the Beehive State in 2015. After that, awardwinning ciders like Ruby, 7-Mile and Desolation Prickly Pear ciders have become staples on draft and in cans around the state, due to their crispness and high drinkability. 425 N. 400 West, SLC, 801-935-4147, mountainwestcider.com

Why KiKi

One Call Away (801) 364-0572 deweysbailbonds.com

COURTESY PHOTO

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

2. M I L K + 3. The Westerner

Viet Pham, Pretty Bird

2. Matt Crandall, White Horse Spirits & Kitchen 3. Tyson Peterson, Mar Muntanya

Mountain West Cider

2. Scion Cider Bar 3. Second Summit Hard Cider Co.

OPEN NOON TO 1AM DAILY 128 SOUTH MAIN ST. | 801.364.4268

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WHERE DIVERSITY IS CELEBRATED DAILY

Best DJ

Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant

Best Fine Dining

Las Vegas-born and -raised, DJ Handsome Hands relocated to Salt Lake City in his 20s to set off on his dream of becoming a disc jockey. From playing at Sweet 16s and birthday parties, DJ Handsome Hands’ big break came from 92.5 FM U92 as a regular mixer. After trading in the birthday parties and small events, he began scoring regular gigs at Utah’s hottest clubs spinning records and mixing beats. expansionteamdjs.com, IG @djhandsomehands

It’s clear why this dreamy place has attracted countless visitors for more than 24 years. Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm is a culinary haven where Jen Castle and Blake Spalding (and now executive chef Tamara Stanger) whip up dishes utilizing HBG’s glorious garden and orchard at their fingertips. Their creations are more than meals; they’re edible poetry that celebrates the Earth’s bounty. Chef Tam’s innovative dishes are pure heaven! It’s a delicious ode to sustainable dining truly cooked with love. 20 UT-12, Boulder, 435-335-7464, hellsbackbonegrill.com

pace while keeping up with culinary trends, and Table X has always been a great example of that maxim. From its impeccable interior design to its ever-evolving menu, Table X never fails to find new and interesting ways to excite local diners. 1457 E. 3350 South, Millcreek, 385-528-3712, tablexrestaurant.com

Handsome Hands

2. DJ Solo 3. Bangarang

Hell’s Backbone Table X Fine dining lives and dies Grill by its ability to set its own

2. Table X 3. Oquirrh Restaurant

2. Urban Hill 3. Log Haven Restaurant

READERS’

PICKS

Best Food Hall/ Food Court

HallPass

Skinny Fats: one of many eateries at HallPass

HallPass has been a food hall pioneer since it opened its doors at The Gateway, and has been a major force in the shopping center’s second coming. Offering everything from ramen to lobster rolls, HallPass and its stable of eateries make sure everyone is satisfied, and their bar space makes for an excellent downtown watering hole. 153 S. Rio Grande Street, SLC, 801-415-9886, hallpassslc.com 2. Woodbine Food Hall 3. Salt Lake Chinatown

COURTESY PHOTO

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

DÉLICE FRENCH BAKERY AND CAFÉ

Hours: Wed-Fri 11-3 Sat 12-3 | Winters Farmers Market Sat 10-2 eatchocolateconspiracy.com

2747 S. STATE ST. SALT LAKE CITY UTAH 801-953-1910 | DELICEBAKERYSLC.COM

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

READERS’

PICKS

Best Italian Restaurant

Caffé Molise

Caffé Molise is that distinctive trattoria you take your friends to when they visit Salt Lake. As you pass through its art-filled dining areas and garden patio, you’ll be greeted by the wafting aromas of Northern Italian cuisine and the fresh dishes of the Molise region of Italy. While it’s all delicious, the butternut-squash ravioli is truly out-of-thisworld comfort and richness. It’s an added bonus that BTG Wine Bar is located beneath the eatery, and you can order off the Caffe Molise menu in the bar. 404 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-364–8833, caffemolise.com 2. Sicilia Mia 3. Valter’s Osteria

DEREK CARLISLE

Scrumptious dining at Caffé Molise features king salmon and gulf shrimp with fettuccine.

Where amazing music, innovative drinks and terrific bartenders meet with great friends..

Celebrating 10 years on Dec 16 2023!

Best German Restaurant

Siegfried’s Delicatessen

Serving up everything from spaetzle to black forest cake, Siegfried’s Delicatessen has long been our go-to for everything German, and it continues to impress. Whether you’re getting some delicious grilled brats and sauerkraut from their cafe or simply shopping for some imported knockwurst, you’ll find a little piece of Germany wherever you look. 20 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-355-3891, siegfriedsdelicatessen.com 2. Bohemian Brewery 3. Ice Haus

Best French Restaurant

La Caille 130 25TH • OGDEN, UT • LIGHTHOUSELOUNGE 801-392-3901 • LIGHTHOUSEOGDEN.COM

Located within the pastoral ambience of a 23acre countryside surrounding a turreted stone French-country chateau, La Caille offers a classy getaway for exceptional French dining. A European tradition, the charcuterie board includes assorted Utah meats and cheeses, Featured main

courses include mouthwatering temptations such as bouillabaisse, cherrywood smoked salmon and crusted sea bass. Try topping dinner off with a sundae, cheesecake or refreshing sorbet. A walk around the picturesque grounds is another fitting finale. 9565 Wasatch Boulevard, Sandy, 801-942-1751, lacaille.com 2. Tuscany Restaurant 3. Franck’s Restaurant

Best Greek Restaurant

Manoli’s

Even a flood that kept the restaurant shuttered for several months this year couldn’t stop Manoli’s from becoming a James Beard Award semifinalist and earning the 2023 Best of Utah title of Best Greek Food. Maybe it’s the meze, a seasonal assortment of shareable bites ranging from vegetarian to meat to seafood, or the warm loukoumades with spiced honey syrup, but one thing’s for certain—you haven’t truly tried Greek food until you’ve tried it here. 402 Harvey Milk Blvd., Ste. 2, SLC, 801-532-3760, manolison9th.com 2. The Other Place Restaurant 3. Greek Souvlaki

CITYWEEKLY.NET | BEST OF UTAH 2023 | 135

Internationally Award Winning Five unique flavors of natural, high-concentration, shelf-stable, aromatic bitters.

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE Best Food Influencer on Social Media

Best Hotel Restaurant

Hey, foodie fam! SLCFoodie’s passion for all things culinary is contagious—every post pulls you in, sparking an insatiable appetite among his followers. SLCFoodie’s meticulous food photography skills turn every dish into a work of art, making you want to lick your screen. In a world of influencers, SLCFoodie stands out as the beacon of authenticity and is simply fun—you can catch Chase Tuesdays on Fox13! slcfoodie@outlook.com

Bambara has always been able to navigate that fine line between pleasing its regulars and evolving to attract a wider audience. A lot of that has to do with the work of executive chef Patrick LeBeau, whose innovative interpretations of classic dishes make every visit something special. On top of Bambara’s fantastic menu, it remains a hip and accessible space to enjoy a night out. 202 S. Main, SLC, 801-363-5454, bambara-slc.com

Chase @SLCFoodie

2. Jennifer Burns, @JBCookingHost 3. Gastronomic SLC

Best Health-Conscious Cuisine

buygrandeurviewbitters.com

Vessel Kitchen

Bambara

2. The Little America Hotel 3. The Grand America Hotel

Best Indian Lunch Buffet

The Kathmandu

While Utah has plenty of health-conscious restaurants, the fact that Vessel has made that concept into a successful fast-casual franchise says a lot. We’ve all been in a situation where we want to eat something fast and tasty while also getting our daily supply of veggies, and we’ve all gone to Vessel as a result. Multiple locations, vesselkitchen.com

Sometimes lunch rolls around and you’re just ravenous, and nothing cures ravenous like a pile of aromatic rice, toasty, buttery naan, a bowl of steaming daal or your favorite curry. The lunch buffet at Kathmandu is also a great way to sample new things from the menu before committing to a full dish. 3142 Highland Drive, SLC, 801-466-3502, highland.thekathmandu.net; 250 W. 2100 South, Ste. G, SLC, 801-935-4258, thekathmanduutah.com

2. Zest Kitchen & Bar 3. Roots Cafe

2. Himalayan Kitchen 3. Kathmandu Grill

READERS’

PICKS Best Food Truck

Cluck Truck

Cluck Truck’s coowner Phil spices up a sandwich Chicken inspires some strong partisanship, and there are plenty of places (and ways) to make it wonderful. But the poultry offerings from Cluck Truck are something special—the impossibly juicy result of long-brining, topped with the unique flavor combination of a dredge that includes cornflakes, sesame seeds and spices. Whatever chain location has been your default, it’s time to rethink things. 801-750-6508, clucktruckutah.com 2. Salt City Barbecue 3. Jurassic Street Tacos Food Truck

COURTESY PHOTO

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Woman-Owned

Open • Monday - Saturday • 2pm to 1am

159 S. Main Street | ruinslc.com

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EATS COCKTAILS SPIRITS WINE + BEER

READERS’

PICKS

Fill ‘er up: Arempa’s arepa reina pepiada (arepa filled with chicken avocado salad)

Best LGBTQ+ Bar

Best Mexican Restaurant

Color us coconut sluts! It’s no surprise why Why Kiki was voted Utah’s best LGBTQ+ bar. Beyond their tropical drinks (The “Coconut Slut” being one of them), you’ll find a passionate staff and a devoted community. More importantly, you’ll see the community expressing itself—whether it be through well-choreographed drag performances, standup comedy or finding comfort in a space that allows you to be yourself. It’s “the place for everyone.” 69 W. 100 South, SLC, 801-641-6115, IG @whykikibar

There’s a reason Red Iguana always dominates this category, and it’s not just the mole. OK, maybe mole has a lot to do with it, but you have to admit this place completely nails the marriage between good food and good vibes every time you visit. It’s one of the few local places that is truly worth waiting in line for. Multiple locations, rediguana.com

Why KiKi

Best Latin/South American Restaurant

Arempa’s

2. The Sun Trapp 3. M I L K +

Best Local Fast-Food Franchise

Crown Burgers

Red Iguana

2. La Casa Del Tamal 3. Chile-Tepin

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

Mazza

Thanks to the efforts of Crown Burgers, the pastrami burger and fry sauce have become signature Utah dishes that are known throughout the country. It’s no small feat for a local joint to make a mark like that, and it’s something any Utah native can be proud of. When you’re craving a gargantuan burger dripping with melty cheese and pastrami, there’s really no other place to go. Multiple locations, crown-burgers.com

For over 20 years, Mazza’s Middle Eastern cuisine has left its mark on the Salt Lake dining scene. The dishes—falafel, shawarma, kebabs, dips and salads—use only fresh ingredients and all-natural meats. Our faves have to be the dolmas, the dips and any of their lamb dishes. Mazza’s Middle Eastern beer and wine selections are among the largest in the U.S. Can you tell we love Mazza? 1515 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-484-9259, mazzacafe.com

2. Cupbop—Korean BBQ in a Cup 3. Apollo Burger

2. Laziz Kitchen 3. Afghan Kitchen

READERS’

2. Papito Moe’s 3. Facil Taqueria

PICKS

Best Indian Restaurant

Best Karaoke

Nearly 8500 Google reviews and 4.9 stars don’t lie, Mumbai House (formerly Salt Lake’s Bombay House) is Utah’s go-to for golden samosas, creamy saag aloo and tender chicken tikka masala. Aiming to please plant-based friends and meat lovers? Choose from a long list of vegan and vegetarian options (try the pineapple tofu) or carnivore classics like rogan josh, lamb vindaloo and butter chicken. Take your dish to the next level with refreshing cucumber raita with house-made yogurt. 2731 E. Parleys Way, SLC, 801-581-0222, mumbaihousecuisine.com

Be the rock star you’ve always known you were born to be at the Highlander Pub, where a friendly crowd, a just-the-right-size stage and a full bar of reasonably priced drinks are waiting for you at the south end of the Van Winkle Expressway. Don’t worry, everyone sounds amazing at the Highlander, especially after a couple rounds. 6194 S. Vine Way, Murray, 801-277-8251, highlanderutah.com

Mumbai House

2. Bombay House, Provo 3. Himalayan Kitchen

Best Juicery/Fresh-Pressed Juices

Vive Juicery

Whether fresh-pressed juices are the miracle product many think them to be or not, there really is something about chugging down what tastes like pure, nutrientdense elixirs. Whether you’re going for a juice cleanse or a zesty immunity shot or just a sip of something that feels healthy and refreshing, Vive has got you covered with veggie and fruit-forward concoctions for every palate. 1597 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-875-8923, vivejuicery.com 2. The Juice Shop 3. Just Organic Juices

Best Neighborhood Bar in Salt Lake Valley

COURTESY PHOTO

Ah, the overstuffed glory of Arempa’s signature dish. It’s almost as if they have an ongoing dare to see how many fillings they can fit into each arepa they serve. Not that anyone is complaining–every juicy, savory mouthful is pure dynamite. Arempa’s also provides a taste of other Venezuelan dishes such as cachapas, empanadas, patacon and pabellon. For best results, plan a late-night visit after some bar hopping. Multiple locations, arempas.com

The Hog Wallow Pub

Highlander Pub

2. Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club 3. Handle Bar

Best Korean Barbecue

KOU-Korean BBQ of Utah

The Korean barbecue experience is simply incredible, and it doesn’t get better than KOU. Their lunch and dinner all-you-can-eat options are affordable (under $33) and offer samples of premium beef, angus brisket, pork and signature side dishes. Korean barbecue, where patrons grill the meat themselves on a tabletop grill, is a fun date night experience or outing with friends and family. 7157 S. State, Midvale, 801-996-8415, thekou.com 2. The Angry Korean 3. Ombu Grill

The beat goes on at Hog Wallow Pub, Salt Lake Valley’s best neighborhood bar.

In 1947, when this neighborhood was “the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon,” a WWII vet turned an abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps bunkhouse into a bar. The once “out-of-the-way watering hole” has undergone many incarnations in the past 76 years. But it’s still a chill place to bring friends or go meet friends, a destination for live music, drinks and great food. 3200 E. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, Cottonwood Heights, 801-733-5567, thehogwallow.com 2. Handle Bar 3. A Bar Named Sue

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Commemorate Your Best Of Utah Win With An Official

Best of Utah Plaque! Staff

2023

RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

READERS’

PICKS

Choice

NDRSe BEST FRTIE RY aders’ A U C N A S Choice ATHER PROLFEIT N O N T B S Y E B TION CREAME’SRFAMILY ORGANIZA Y 2023

Best New Bar

Paxton Pub

BEST IC E SUNDACREAM E

Order Online Today @ cityweeklystore.com

The words “new bar” in SLC have become synonymous with top-tier cocktail programs—and top-tier prices. But when your wallet needs a break, or you want a drink with a little less drama, Paxton Pub is the place to be. With a full-service liquor license and all your favorite bar foods, this new Ballpark pub is the neighborhood hang you’ve been hankering for. Drop by for karaoke or trivia nights, or huddle up with a cold one to watch the next big game. 365 Paxton Ave., Unit C, SLC, 801441-2208, paxtonpub.com 2. Acme Bar Co. 3. The Pearl

DEREK CARLISLE

Karaoke at Paxton

Best New Restaurant

Best Nightclub for Live Music

The local owners of Park City’s Hearth and Hill and Hill’s Kitchen café and catering have had their eye on downtown Salt Lake, and the opening of Urban Hill in the new Post District is the thrilling result. Upscale and innovative, the restaurant features the cuisine of executive chef Nick Zocco, an open kitchen, wood-fired grill, oyster bar, a 2,400-bottle wine room, lounge and patio areas. It’s new and posh. What’s not to love? 510 S. 300 West, SLC, 385-295-4200, urban-hill.com

A Best of Utah longtime favorite for entertainment, food and drinks, Garage on Beck is now sadly struggling to rise from the ashes after a serious fire damaged the building on Oct. 21. The bar has temporarily closed hoping to return, and a GoFundMe fire relief page has been set up to help the Garage’s employees in the wake of the sudden closure. Readers remain hopeful the roadhouse-style bar, outdoor patio and music will return to Garage on Beck. 1199 Beck St., SLC, 801-521-3904, garageonbeck.com

2. Mar | Muntanya 3. Italian Graffiti

2. Urban Lounge 3. Soundwell

Best Nightclub DJ Lineup

Best Ogden Bar

Urban Hill

Sky SLC

Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake, Sky SLC is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, 20 VIP suites and a retractable roof, combining to create an experience unlike any other in the state. Sky has aligned with Live Nite Events and Realine Group, bringing in top DJs and artists on a frequent basis. “Sky Saturdays”, “Energi Wednesdays” and “Any Given Sundays” are filled with emerging and premier music from local and national artists. 149 Pierpont Ave., SLC, 801-702-9014, skyslc.com 2. Why KiKi 3. The Exchange By Twist

Garage on Beck

Harp and Hound

Harp and Hound is a friendly bar, known for its original crafted cocktails. Dana “Danger,” one of the bar’s long-time mixologist, “doesn’t just serve cocktails, she creates a beverage experience,” notes one patron. Seek out Dana! Beyond drinks, Harp and Hound’s comfort food is gourmet, with a twist, and features vegan options. Whether you’re after live music or banter with the bartender, Harp and Hound delivers, making it the place to be in Ogden. 2550 Washington Blvd., Ogden, 801-621-3483, harphound.com 2. Side Bar at Ogden’s Own Distillery 3. The City Club

shot and beer special every day!!

20 2 2

Wednesday: 1st & 3rd of the month - Paint Night

DAILY FOOD SPECIALS Thursday: Trivia Night

Fancy Fridays: $4 Buffalo Trace Whiskey

Saturday: Karaoke

@paxton_pub | 365 W Paxton Ave. SLC UT | paxtonpub.com

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Best Old-School Drive-in

Best Old-Timey Cafe

While the days of carhops and poodle skirts are moving farther and farther away from us, it’s nice to visit a place like Hires Big H to recapture some of the Happy Days vibes. Even for those not after a sense of nostalgia—borrowed or otherwise—the burgers, sides and shakes at Hires will always do the trick. Multiple locations, hiresbigh.com

What this older building lacks in curb appeal, it makes up for in diner fare extraordinaire. This Layton institution serves a home-style menu of hash browns smothered in country gravy and chicken-fried steak as if cholesterol wasn’t a household word. Just save room for their famous scones—crispy pastries topped with an ice-cream scoop of honey butter—that will have you licking your fingers and your plate. 335 E. Gentile St., Layton, 801-544-7438, facebook.com/sillscafe

Hires Big H

2. Iceberg Drive Inn 3. Woody’s Drive-In

Sill’s Cafe

2. Left Fork Grill 3. Midvale Mining Cafe & Catering

Best Ogden Restaurant

Best Park City Bar

Tona Sushi Bar & Grill

No Name Saloon

Ogden’s Historic 25th Street, the city’s cultural hub, offers so much to do, from shopping to nightclubbing to dining out. If you have a hankering for some the city’s most deluxe sushi, Tona is the place to be. They serve up sophisticated Japanese sushi rolls and seafood dishes daily. Here, you’ll be served innovative cuisine that leaves a lasting impression. 210 25th St., Ogden, 801-622-8662, tonarestaurant.com 2. Roosters Brewing Co. and Restaurant 3. Slackwater

In a town that’s thick with bars it’s no easy feat being named the best. But Park City’s No Name Saloon offers all of the goods under one roof. The four spaces that the saloon provides include the classic main bar that reflects PC’s history; the mezzanine—a cozy, quieter space; the rooftop patio that overlooks Main Street; and the loft, which is perfect for watching a game. It’s easy to see why locals and visitors love this joint. 447 Main St., Park City, 435-649-6667, nonamesaloon.com 2. The Cabin 3. O’ Shucks Bar and Grill Main Street

Playin’ that funky music at Funk ‘n Dive Bar in Ogden

READERS’

PICKS Best Ogden Dive Bar

Funk ‘n Dive Bar

If you’re looking for a good time in O-Town, chances are you’ll find it at Funk ‘n Dive near Historic 25th Street. From live music to video game nights, to Tuesday night poker, trivia and open mics, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. Plus, Funk ‘n Dive has a small, but delicious menu for when you’re craving some classic bar food. 2550 Washington Blvd., Ogden, 801-621-3483, funkanddive.com. 2. Lighthouse Lounge 3. Harp and Hound

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Gourmandise’ classic pastry is a delicious work of art.

READERS’

Best Restaurant Atmosphere

Best Restaurant Beyond Downtown SLC

Best Pastry Bakery

Long synonymous with wildflowers, waterfalls and fine dining, Log Haven is located in a historic log mansion in the Wasatch National Forest. The atmosphere is cozy and charming, and it’s only enhanced by a menu that includes appetizers like tuna tartare and crab cakes; main courses featuring bison, salmon, quail and halibut; and desserts like crème brulee and chocolate cake. Log Haven boasts a woodland setting and crackling fireplaces that simply warm the soul. 6451 Mill Creek Canyon Road, SLC, 801-272-8255, log-haven.com

Where Best of Utah is concerned, Log Haven continues to knock it out of the park—or the city, in this case. The log cabin’s intimate and romantic setting in Mill Creek Canyon is the perfect place to take a first date, a business associate or a long-time friend. The elegant but rustic fine dining experience is second to none, and the food is extraordinary every time. 6451 E. Millcreek Canyon Road, SLC, 801-272-8255, log-haven.com

Log Haven Restaurant

PICKS

Gourmandise

2. Urban Hill 3. Italian Graffiti

Best Restaurant in Utah County

Communal

Don’t be afraid of dining family style, especially when the food is this good. Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner, Communal draws the crowds for good reason. Where else can you get a broccoli grilled cheese? Or a funeral potato waffle? 102 N. University Ave., Provo, 801-373-8000, communalrestaurant.com

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2. Hungry Hawaiian Provo 3. Happy Sumo

Taking their cues from the annals of classic French pastry, Gourmandise has established itself as a serious destination for fans of baked goods. Their expert use of butter, chocolate, custard and fresh fruit simply makes every pastry on their shelf shine just a little brighter. In addition to their top notch pastry game, each Gourmandise location is a warm, welcoming place to chill out and enjoy all those flavors and textures on display. Multiple locations, gourmandise.com

Log Haven Restaurant

2. Arlo Restaurant 3. Manoli’s

Best Salt Lake Valley Pizza

Bricks Corner

Anyone who has indulged in Detroit-style deep-dish pizza without heading out of state owes a tip of the cap to Bricks Corner. Not only does this local favorite serve up plenty of traditional recipes, but its signature pies like the Spam-tossed Polynesian Pie and the veggie-friendly Roots Pie bring a touch of gourmet flair to this transcendent pizza joint. 1465 S. 700 East, SLC, 801-953-0636, brickscornerslc.com 2. The Pie Pizzeria 3. Via 313 Pizza

If you head downtown on any given evening, you’ll see that Slackwater is popping. Pizza for dinner is always a good idea, especially if you’re heading to Slackwater. You’ll find a menu full of mouthwatering appys, sandwiches, soups, salads and of course, pizza. There’s something for everyone on the menu, even the most picky eaters! 209 24th St., Ogden, 801-399-0637, slackwaterpizzeria.com 2. Lucky Slice Pizza Ogden 3. The Pie Pizzeria—Ogden

READERS’

PICKS Best Ogden Pizza

Slackwater

2. Fillings & Emulsions 3. Délice Bakery & Café

Best Pastry Shop

Gourmandise

When you consider how much work Gourmandise puts into each and every item on their menu, it’s baffling to see so many options on display. From perfectly laminated croissants to dark chocolate brownies to dainty, jewel-toned macarons, the variety at Gourmandise is staggering–and delicious. Who among us hasn’t gone to Gourmandise for one indulgence only to walk away with a whole box full of goodies? Multiple locations, gourmandise.com 2. Fillings & Emulsions 3. Délice Bakery & Café

Best Utah County Pizza

Brick Oven

Brick Oven is a doughy da Vinci painting, a saucy Sistine Chapel of flavors that’ll make your taste buds shout “Bravo!” You have a pasta bar, housemade root beer and an extensive pizza menu at your fingertips. When it comes to pizza in Utah County, Brick Oven is the top slice on the pyramid

of pie perfection. Folks love the environment and that it has been around since their childhoods— aahh! The memories! 111 E. 800 North, Provo, 801-374-8800, brickovenrestaurants.com 2. Via 313 Pizza 3. Mozz Artisan Pizza

Best Park City Pizza

Este Pizza Park City

Este Pizza doesn’t just excel in New York Style pizza; they also shine in the realm of vegan and gluten-free options. Their pizzas are a delicious masterpiece, boasting the perfect proportion of crispy crust, flavorful sauce and generous toppings to make each bite an edible celebration. Their dedication to quality ingredients and innovative combinations sets them apart; they know you can taste the difference. We love that they offer vegan buffalo wings! 1781 Sidewinder Drive, Ste. 1, Park City, 435-731-8970, estepizzaparkcity.com 2. Davanza’s 3. Maxwell’s

Slackwater’s adventurous Taco Camarones pizza

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READERS’

PICKS Best Rooftop Patio

The Green Pig Pub

Best Romantic Dinners

Best Salt Lake County Dive Bar

Log Haven is a love story in the making. Located in a historic log mansion in the Wasatch National Forest, Log Haven offers an intimate dining experience that stirs the soul. The warm glow of candlelight dances on wooden beams, creating an enchanting ambiance. When it comes to romantic dinners, Log Haven has long been the ultimate destination for lovebirds seeking an unforgettable evening. Nature is delicious. 6451 Mill Creek Canyon Road, SLC, 801-272-8255, log-haven.com

There’s really nothing all that “divey” about being cozy and cheap. That’s why locals choose A Bar Named Sue as their favorite place to chill and blow off steam. The drinks are cheap, the food is reasonable and the billiards are free as are the darts, shuffleboard and jukebox. Throw in UFC matches and live music—now you’ve found the full package. 3928 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, 801-274-5578; 8136 S. State, Midvale, 801-566-3222; abarnamedsue.com

Log Haven Restaurant A Bar Named Sue

What makes a great rooftop patio? Size, first of all—it shouldn’t be too large. You’re there for the scenery, not a mob. Most importantly is the view. It should be stimulating and provide an overlook that doesn’t detach you from the landscape. The Green Pig’s cozy rooftop patio provides all of this during the day and evening. It is the perfect urban perch for scenery and people gazing. 31 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-532-7441, thegreenpigpub.com 2. Grid City Beer Works 3. Piper Down Pub

2. La Caille 3. Valter’s Osteria

Tasty grub and drinks on The Green Pig Pub’s roof offer a reprieve from a busy day.

Best Seafood Restaurant

Best Rural Tavern

Shooting Star Saloon

They truly don’t make ’em like this anymore. Near the town center of sleepy Huntsville—a stone’s throw from city hall, a pioneer monument and a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse—the Shooting Star Saloon has been serving lost souls since the late-1800s. Good food, pool table, jukebox, a few booths, a handful of barstools and a resident ghost or two—this place has everything a great bar needs because it figured out the formula generations ago. Bring cash. 7350 E. 200 South, Huntsville, 801-745-2002, shooting-star-saloon.business.site 2. Ray’s Tavern 3. Mim’s Bar and Grill

DEREK CARLISLE

Sawadee’s salmon curry

Best Late-Night Grub

Best Restaurant in Park City

The restorative power that pizza has on a partiedout soul cannot be overstated, which is why Pie Hole is such a bastion of hope for the late night lost. See, they serve all that comforting stuff like cheese and pepperoni, but they also have insanity on a crust like the Thai peanut and smoked jalapeño Munchy Mango. There are few late night snacks that hit the spot like this hits the spot. 344 S. State, SLC, 801-359-4653, pieholeutah.com

With its reliably great food and succulent cocktails, this family-friendly eatery is a mainstay, for sure. Great service and a dog-friendly patio make it a fun option off of Main Street. The large space is surprisingly warm and welcoming, and well, so is the truffle mac ‘n’ cheese. 1153 Center Drive, Park City, 435-200-8840, hearth-hill.com

Pie Hole

2. Arempa’s 3. The Pie Pizzeria

Best Restaurant in Downtown SLC

Oquirrh Restaurant

There are plenty of fine dining options that offer a stellar menu, but Oquirrh is one of the few restaurants that has Utah in its bones. From the sophisticated take on rustic cuisine to the locally produced art and dinnerware, Oquirrh is a rare establishment that taps into what makes Utah great and serves it up on a dinner plate. 368 E. 100 South, SLC, 801-359-0426, oquirrhslc.com 2. Valter’s Osteria 3. Urban Hill

2. Willies Lounge 3. X-Wife’s Place

Current Fish & Oyster

With a menu that’s innovative, contemporary and honed through extensive research, Current selects and prepares the freshest seafood from regional America. We feel like their entire menu is award worthy, but you can’t go wrong with the oysters, ceviche, or the cooked-to-perfection scallops. They may have won best seafood—but save room for dessert because where else can you taste powdered olive oil?! 279 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-326-3474, currentfishandoyster.com 2. Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar 3. Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House

READERS’

PICKS

Best Thai Restaurant

Sawadee Thai Restaurant

Hearth and Hill

2. Handle 3. Riverhorse on Main

Best Restaurant Patio

Ivy & Varley

Ivy & Varley is home to the largest outdoor restaurant patio that downtown Salt Lake has to offer. The American eatery offers a contemporary and farm-to-table approach. There’s no better afternoon or evening spent than snacking on their Everything Brussels (fried Brussels sprouts, fromage blanc, maple-mustard, everything bagel seasoning and dill) on their expansive and inviting patio. For larger events or gatherings, inquire about renting the space out for an unforgettable experience. 55 S. 100 West, SLC, 801-895-2846, ivyandvarley.com

Sawadee reigns as one of SLC’s favorite Thai establishments, and for good reason. You can not only get your favorite comfort dishes like heaping plates of pad thai and pad see ew, or steaming bowls of tom kha, but rotating chef’s specials to get a real taste of Thai cuisine. Look out for crispy duck dishes and seafood splendors full of every kind of seafood you could desire in a bowl. 754 E. South Temple, SLC, 801-328-8424, sawadeethaiutah.com

2. Ruth’s Diner 3. Log Haven Restaurant

2. Tuk Tuk’s 3. Skewered Thai

DEREK CARLISLE

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READERS’

Best Sushi Restaurant

Best Vegan Bakery

Takashi is our sushi sanctuary in the city of salt, where every roll is a tantalizing work of edible art (try the Caribbean, the Spider, or the Surf & Snow). And there are more than rolls here; the sashimi must be tasted—so let your server guide you along on a delicious adventure to taste the specials or ask to be served omakase (leave it up to the chef). 18 W. Market St., SLC, 801-519-9595, takashisushi.com

Get ready for a lot of, “Wait, this is vegan?!” At Sweet Hazel & Co. Bakeshop & Bistro, everything (yep, everything) is vegan. With a menu full of classic bistro comforts like pastrami Reubens, club sandos and burgers, plus plant-based riffs on all your favorite brownies, cakes and candies, it’s easy to see why every bite beguiles your taste buds into thinking you’re noshing on foods from your pre-vegan days. 282 W. 7200 South, Midvale, 801-889-1466, sweethazelandco.com

Takashi

PICKS

Best Utah County Bar

Strap Tank Brewery

2. Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill 3. Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Best Trivia Night

Piper Down Pub

What sets this trivia night apart is the exceptional level of obscurity in its questions. Hosted by Dr. Nick, it’s the ultimate brainteasing, laughter-inducing evening in an electrifying atmosphere where teams compete in a battle of wits. Whether you’re a trivia novice or a seasoned pro, you’ll want to be here on Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Order some nachos, tip their charming wait staff and stay for karaoke with Jamal! 1492 S. State, SLC, 801-468-1492, piperdownpub.com 2. The Green Pig Pub 3. A Bar Named Sue Both Utah County locations of Strap Tank Brewery are delightful anomalies in the Happy Valley landscape. Strap Tank is packed with effortless charm, welcoming vibes, an impressive gastropub menu and a great variety of beer on tap. They will ever remain stalwart monoliths dedicated to the inner biker in all of us. 3661 Outlet Parkway, Lehi, 385-503-8443; 596 S. 1750 West, Springville, 385-462-8775; straptankbrewery.com 2. ABG’s Bar 3. Wee Blu Inn Bar & Grill

Best Japanese

Takashi

Takashi is the ultimate Japanese culinary thrill ride in downtown. Sushi becomes an adventure, and each roll is a mini-exploration of taste. The vibrant atmosphere and attentive service only add to the delight. Whether you’re a sushi connoisseur or a novice, Takashi’s fusion of flavors and playful creativity guarantees a memorable, fun-filled dining experience that’s second to none. If sushi is not your thing, the braised pork ribs will have you coming back for more! 18 W. Market St., SLC, 801-519-9595, takashisushi.com 2. Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill 3. Kyoto Japanese Restaurant

Best Vegan Restaurant

Best Sports Bar

Best Steakhouse

Before Sauce Boss came along, it was hard to make the distinction between soul food and Southern cooking. Sure, the two often overlap, but nothing quite drives the concept of soul food home as hard as a pile of Golden Splendor or some fried catfish from Sauce Boss. Just make sure you haven’t eaten in a few days before you take this journey—soul food tastes best when it’s served in large quantities. 877 E. 12300 South, Ste. 203, Draper, 385-434-2433, saucebosssouthernkitchen.com

If you’re a sports fan and haven’t stopped in at this Gateway bar, what are you waiting for? Flanker is 17,500-square-feet, equipped with 400 square-feet of LED screens, sports simulator rooms (virtual golf, hockey, etc.), a central sporting club and cocktail lounge. Enjoy the quiet patio or move inside to a karaoke room, hobnob in the cocktail area or hang in the intimate private bar. It’s truly a sports-lover’s haven. 6 N. Rio Grande St., Ste. 35, SLC, 801-683-7070, flankerslc.com

in 1965, and it’s set America’s standard for premium steak houses ever since. The a la carte menu is ideal for those wishing to sample a few of their delicious sides (we recommend the sweet potato casserole) to pair with their choice of protein. It goes without saying, each cut is USDA Prime and comes piping hot straight from the kitchen to your table. 275 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-363-2000, ruthschris.com

2. Gracie’s 3. Big Willies

2. Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops 3. Hoof & Vine

Vertical Diner’s “Dude cakes” are deliciously vegan and can be made gluten free.

Vertical Diner

Flanker Ruth’s Chris Kitchen and Steak House first iteration of Ruth’s Sporting Club The Chris Steak House opened Utah restaurants are upping their vegan game, but this eatery makes vegan food the star of the show. You’ll be wowed by vegan plays on classic dishes that are found with appetizers, wraps, salads, sandwiches and burgers. Breakfast options are in abundance and the beverage program (wines, spirits and beers) is far better than a lot of bars in town. Nearby construction and COVID may’ve conspired to ding business but Vertical has hung in there. 234 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-484-8378, verticaldiner.com 2. Buds 3. Zest Kitchen & Bar

JOHN TAYLOR

2. The Bayou 3. Taste of Louisiana

2. City Cakes & Café 3. Passion Flour Patisserie

PICKS

Best Soul Food

Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen

Sweet Hazel & Co.

READERS’

DEREK CARLISLE

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RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

READERS’

PICKS Best Vietnamese Restaurant

4010 S MAIN STREET, MILLCREEK SECONDSUMMITCIDER | SECONDSUMMITCIDER.COM

Mi La-Cai Noodle House

Tuck into a curtained booth with a warm, fragrant bowl of pho, a cup of toasty genmaicha tea and a side of egg rolls, and you couldn’t feel further from SLC’s busy State Street. For nearly 30 years, La Cai’s been the place to get one’s Vietnamese food fix. Service never skips a beat, dishes are always consistent (try the chicken lettuce wraps and the walnut shrimp), and the takeout game? Well worth the drive. 961 S. State, SLC, 801-322-3590, lacaislc.com 2. All Chay 3. Little Saigon

Winner “Best Of Utah” Bowling 10 Years in a Row! COME AND SEE WHY!

Bonwood

• 42 Lanes • Awesome Sound System • Sports Monitors • Over 40 Varieties Of Beer • Bonwood Cafe • Competitive Edge Pro Shop

Have your fill of Mi La-Cai Noodle House’s lettuce wraps

CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW LANES 801.487-7758 • BONWOODBOWL.COM • 2500 S. MAIN STREET

DEREK CARLISLE

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YOUR NEW FAVORITE PATIO & CIDERS!

Best Vegan-Friendly Food Truck

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Many food trucks serve up tasty fare that satisfies our comfort food cravings but it’s often not super healthy. However, if you’re into a vegan diet and happen upon Garden O’Veaten, you’ll find options that not only sound good but are good for you and your body. Plant-based options at this food-truck include jackfruit sliders smothered in barbecue sauce, cashew-based mac ‘n’ cheese, crab cakes made with heart of palm and super-healthy quinoa and brown rice bowls. Eat up—without the guilt! 801-403-7423, gardenoveaten.com

Places like Vertical Diner launched the trend to create vegetarian and vegan comfort food that are now a culinary genre of their own. Saucy chunks of Tender Tigers, sweet maple-y tempeh bacon, fennel-flecked TVP sausage, nutritional yeast-laced mac ‘n’ cheese—these staples for veg heads are like eggs and bacon, burgers and chicken tenders to omnivore. Vertical is the go-to for brek, lunch and dinner for anyone who loves classic, no-frills veggie cuisine. 234 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-484-8378, verticaldiner.com

Garden O’Veaten

2. Sushi Squad 3. Salt Flat Coffee Co.

Vertical Diner

2. Zest Kitchen & Bar 3. All Chay

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Staff Picks

Best Bar to Play Pool at

Big Willies

Big Willies is the place to quaff a beer, have a shot and take a shot. Its seven pool tables by premiere builder, Diamond, are scrupulously maintained. Rent by the hour ($3) or play by-the-game ($1). The full-service bar features daily specials like $3.50 shots of Jack Daniels and Bombay or a $5 glass of Robert Mondavi pinot noir. Hungry? Big Willies takes “bar food” to an entirely new level with entrees like fettuccine Alfredo and filet mignon. 1717 S. Main, SLC, 801-463-4996, bigwillieslounge.com

Best Lowdown Libations

Back Door on Edison

Burgers so good they’ll blow your mind!

italianvillageslc.com (801).266.4182 5370 s. 900 e. SLC

801-355-3425 878 E 900 S

Las Botellas

Best Named Sandos

Rime Seafood & Steak

The Robin’s Nest

For people who want a sandwich that’s not all bread, nor one so big that it takes two days to eat, but who also care that their sandwich is built on unique and memorable flavors, then The Robin’s Nest wins hands down. Robin Paluso uses the whole taste palate in such clever named sandwiches as Salsero Chicken, Yummy Hummy, Flower Child and the Oinkity Doink. Also serving satisfying soups and salads to the downtown Salt Lake lunch crowd. 83 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-466-6378, robinsnestslc.com

Best Local Legend

The Cabin’s Elkupine

Each morning, patrons at Red Moose Coffee flock to the drive-thru window or peruse the comfortable indoor space. The bustling baristas serve excellent coffee and dish up great handheld breakfasts, including the Bull Moose Breakfast Burrito, a mammoth serving of double protein, cheese, scrambled eggs and potatoes. Did we mention breakfast is served all day (till 3 p.m.)? 1693 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-906-8864, redmoosecafeslc.com

Years ago, all silver mining children knew of the Elkupine—basically a porcupine with antlers. But with the onset of ever more miners to the Park City area, the Elkupine gradually disappeared, their final hurrah being blamed for the great fire of 1868 that burned over 200 businesses. The last of the Elkupines, Al, now sits at The Cabin, buried nose deep in a plate of truffle fries adorned in Elkupine swag. Buy Al a beer when you’re in the neighborhood. 427 Main, Park City, 435-565-2337, thecabinparkcity.com

Best Reason to Visit City Creek Mall

Best Princely Savings

Aqua Terra Steak & Sushi

Richsburgersngrub.com

Best South Valley Splurge

Best Affordable Deer Valley Dining

Ski town dining ain’t cheap, especially fine dining. But for one of the better values, check out Rime at the St. Regis. Ascending to the resort’s main building on a Swiss funicular is where the fun begins. Once inside Rime, watch the kitchen work its magic with fresh seafood and prime-cut meats. Then dine indoors or al fresco with breathtaking mountain views. St. Regis Deer Valley, 2300 Deer Valley Drive, Park City, 435-940-5760, srdvdining.com

coffeegardenslc.com

If a chain restaurant won’t convey, “Happy birthday, gee, we think you’re swell,” then it’s gotta be SLC Eatery. Creators Paul Chamberlain and Logen Crew converted a commercial garage to express a bold urban flair and ambiance, leaving no doubt that you chose wisely. Plus, the ever-changing menu brings you back time and again. Chef Logen’s creative genius conjures exotic dishes with fresh ingredients and new spins on the familiar. The rolling cart items alone are a culinary experience. 1017 S. Main, SLC, 801-355-7952, slceatery.com

This Latin-inspired eatery promises “a little touch of Tulum.” The decor is bold and swanky—unlike any place in the Valley—with dazzling hanging lights and chandeliers. Specialty drinks are a big thing here, so live it up and order one that involves flames. Pair it with a flight of salsas and maybe some tableside guac. The high-end Mexican dishes and steaks will call out to you, but beware, even a hamburger is $28! YOLO. A bit of Vegas in a Riverton mall. Who knew? 4488 Teal Ridge Way, Ste. H-100, Riverton, 385-758-7847, experiencelasbotellas.com

Red Moose Coffee

801.355.0667

SLC Eatery

Bored with the SLC bar scene? Here’s a light bulb of an idea—head for a hidden speakeasy sure to leave your guests impressed: Back Door on Edison. Sink into a velvet banquette and order the Frosted Water Lily for a verdant sipper that sees local Dented Brick Craft Gin saddle up alongside St. Germain, Crème De Violette, lime and coconut. And for a late-night nosh, ask for appetizers from neighboring Laziz Kitchen. 152 E. 200 South, SLC, 385-267-1161, backdoorslc.com

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One of City Creek’s newer fine-dining establishments, Aqua Terra has garnered praise for its romantic atmosphere, unique cocktails and well thought-out menu. For starters, a must-try is the salmon belly, torched and set over crispy rice, mixed with cucumber lime, garlic kewpie and mango salsa. We also recommend the frenched lamb, served with crisp potatoes, rosemary butter sauce and asparagus. 50 S. Main, No. 168, SLC, 385-261-2244, aquaterrasteak.com

Crow and the Pitcher

One of the most common things we hear these days is that drinks—and especially classic cocktails—are cost prohibitive. Going out for cocktails seems to cost double or triple what it did not that long ago. Not fun if you’re on a budget. Now comes Murray’s Crow and the Pitcher where, for Sunday brunch, you can wash your eggs down with a super tasty bloody mary for a mere $5, or a mimosa for just $2.50. Party like it’s 1999, folks. 4883 S. State, Murray, 801-590-9187, thecrowslc.com

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154 | BEST OF UTAH 2023 | CITYWEEKLY.NET

FEATURE Making Moves Indigenous musician rides the momentum with her music. BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

time, or if you want to contribute with some funding, that’s also an option, or it could be as little as following them and sharing their posts whenever there’s someone missing. Take that time to reshare and repost,” Standingbear said. Stella Standingbear is making moves— whether it’s a quick crossover, or a song that makes waves, you can count on her to not to hold still. With that movement, she hopes to help people through her impactful music. “I hope whatever that listeners are going through, that my music is able to help them. Helps them find the light in any darkness that they may be facing, and that they’re strong and they can get through whatever they’re going through,” she said. CW

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said. “A lot of cases are never counted, are never filed, never counted or eligible to count. I do what I can, whether it’s raising money or sharing a story or talking about it at my shows. I think those conversations and having those open conversations with our community could save a life.” As we continue through Native American Heritage Month, Standingbear urges everyone to learn about the movement and research MMIW groups in your area; as there’s not one national MMIW nonprofit, it’s broken down by state. Here, it’s MMIW+ of Utah, and they can be found on Instagram and Facebook under that name. Every bit helps when it comes to spreading the word on the issue. “Either reaching out to volunteer your

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Stella Standingbear

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ometimes, making a move can change everything. Moving to a new place not only alters your physical perspective, but can also alter your views on life. Salt Lake City native Stella Standingbear made the move from Salt Lake City to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and it has meant the world to her music career. Standingbear was born and raised in SLC, but had gone to Pine Ridge to visit family in the past. It had been quite some time since her last visit when she went last year, but it was a great experience, and she realized it was best to move there permanently. “I felt grounded and connected and honored to be there, and experience and learn more about my culture,” she said. “It was really cool just to connect with my family, especially it being such a long time, and really feel like I was home, like this is where I was supposed to be. I felt more connected to where I come from, and more connected to who I am.” The support Standingbear has received since moving to the reservation has been outstanding, and she’s feeling more motivated than ever with the Indigenous and Native community behind her. The singer/ songwriter has been pumping out amazing songs since her 2022 hit debut “Home Runs,” but her two most recent EPs are works that she is particularly proud of. Still Standing and Crossing Over are two separate bodies of work, but are still able to come together and create a beautiful story of strength, resilience and pure talent. Standingbear considers Still Standing an

introduction, especially because it contains her debut track “Home Runs,” which was released in honor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement and Native American Heritage Month. Crossing Over was created with a feeling of movement and forward motion in mind. Standingbear played a lot of basketball when she was young, so the EP has a perfect double-meaning in its title. “Basketball is a big part of our culture, and when you do a crossover move, it’s like when you outplay somebody and make that shot in. It’s kind of a double-entendre of me making my crossover shot, as well as crossing over into the stardom,” she explained. Standingbear has rightfully gained a lot of attention since that first single in 2022. Some of the most meaningful recognition has come from the Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards, where she’s been nominated, and won, in multiple categories. “It was really cool because I’ve never been nominated for a music award, let alone won any,” she said. “It was definitely a beautiful moment in my career, especially because Pine Ridge Reservation is actually the poorest reservation in the United States. So to bring home these awards, it’s like I’m also bringing these awards not only for myself and my family and my team, but also for everyone on the reservation, especially the young kids who look up to me. Life is pretty tough here, so also bringing back that motivation and inspiration, and showing them that they can do this as well.” Working for and with her community is a big part of why Standingbear does what she does. She dedicates a lot of her time and energy to the MMIW movement to bring awareness to the epidemic of violence Indigenous women face. Her large following is the perfect way to spread awareness and get more information on the movement out to the public. “It’s something that’s a really big issue in our community, and it doesn’t get as much media coverage as it should,” she

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Heading to The DLC is always a fun night—you’ve got your games, live music and drinks all in one place. At this particular show, you’ll be able to catch a local triple threat that will leave you with a fun hangover for days to come. Headlining the show is Sinking About, a group that has been releasing mellow, melodic indie tunes since 2022. Their most recent release, Church of Jupiter, starts out by making you feel like you’re drifting down a calm river contemplating life and relaxing, but then ends with an upbeat track that sounds like it should have a laser show accompanying it. It has ’80s-inspired synths and fast, upbeat drums that won’t let you sit still for a second. Joining the show is Sunset Station, an SLC-based desert indie group that has treated us to two singles this year, the newest being their October release “City Lights.” This song is perfect for when you’re feeling that main-character energy. It’s moody and full of reverb, perfect for a late-night drive to clear your mind. Rounding out the bill is Sad Cowboy, or “the lone rangers of rock and roll,” as they like to call themselves. If you’re a fan of indie, especially from locals, this is the show for you. Head out to support these rad bands on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $10 at quartersslc.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

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By Emilee Atkinson

Adventure Club @ The Complex 11/17

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As part of the Heroes and Villains Tour, the Canadian duo Adventure Club features Christian Srigley and Leighton James, who are a crowd favorite with a signature sound that includes melodic, sensual, high-pitched female vocals with dubstep synths. It may come as a surprise that Adventure Club started out as a hardcore pop-punk band before transitioning to electronic dance music based on their wellknown 2011 remix of “Crave You” by Flight Facilities. The remix conveys a mesmerizing sultriness with lyrics, “Why can’t you want me like the other boys do? / They stare at me while I stare at you / I walked into the room dripping in gold / Dripping, dripping.” Often considered among the pioneers of dubstep, Srigley and James have mastered the art of the melodic genre of dubstep and continue to keep it alive and thriving. From their earlier work in 2012—such as the remix of “Lullabies” by Yuna and their single “Rise and Fall” with Krewella—to their 2020 single “High Like This” and newest 2023 single “You Found Me,” the duo showcases incredible endurance for releasing heavy-hitters throughout the years. The Heroes and Villains Tour continues their tradition of creating and performing captivating electronic music with soaring melodies and emotive basslines. Adventure Club performs at The Complex on Nov 17. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 at thecomplexslc.com (Arica Roberts)

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St. Paul and the Broken Bones

Dying Wish

St. Paul and The Broken Bones @ ArtTix 11/17

Over the course of their 12-year career, St. Paul and The Broken Bones have morphed from the old-school soul sound they established early on to various permeations of R&B, funk and disco. The band’s latest album, Angels In Science Fiction, is their boldest venture yet, a set of songs written by band leader Paul Janeway when he learned his wife was pregnant and subsequently penned a series of songs to his as-yet unborn daughter. Taking his cue from such noble predecessors as Aristotle, William James and John Steinbeck, the work that resulted is both novel and affecting, decidedly experimental but still as moving, and as memorable as each effort that preceded it. That’s hardly surprising, considering the fact that this eight-piece outfit has established a reputation as festival favorites, having graced the stages of Lollapalooza, Coachella and Glastonbury. They’ve won critical kudos as well, including praises from Esquire, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, SPIN and NPR. Credit their dance-inducing sound and rousing rhythms for making them the success that they are. “You count your blessings in those situations,” Janeway once told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s somethin’ I love doin’, I get to do it for a livin’ and I know I’m lucky.” Clearly, it didn’t take sticks and stones to break these Bones into the big time. Talent alone seemed to suffice. Live at the Eccles presents St. Paul and The Broken Bones with special guest Maggie Rose at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17 at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets cost $35 - $130; go to my.arttix.org. (Lee Zimmerman)

Addison Grace, Rachael Jenkins, Mia Hicken @ Soundwell 11/21

SLC queer icon Addison Grace released their long-awaited debut album in September, then went on a headlining tour that comes to an exciting end in his hometown. Grace has been captivating listeners since his debut in 2020, releasing comfy pop tracks featuring his crystal-clear voice that will keep you coming back for more. Up until this year, the singer/songwriter had released plenty of singles and several EPs, but not a full LP, so it’s exciting that one is finally here. The album, titled Diving Lessons, was inspired by hardship and growing pains, especially growing up queer in Utah. “It was through the difficulty of me not fitting in as a kid and not being able to make a lot of friends, that I was able to shift into music,” Grace said. Diving Lessons showcases growth for Grace, both vocally and lyrically, as they’ve navigated life as an openly queer, transmasc artist. “This entire album is about healing, and going through something really hard as a teenager, and having to grow through it,” Addison said. “I named it Diving Lessons because when you hit the water, it hurts and it sucks, and you’re overstimulated and it’s hard, and you have to swim to the edge. That’s how this album feels to me.” Catch Grace as he finishes his tour with a bang on Tuesday, Nov 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $23 and can be found at soundwellslc.com. (EA)

By Emilee Atkinson

Dying Wish @ Kilby Court 11/22

IZZY

PAIGE SARA

MUSIC PICKS

Portland, Ore.’s hardcore quintet Dying Wish knows how to find the balance. On their 2021 debut album Fragments of a Bitter Memory, they’ve taken a nostalgic metalcore sound yet modernized and improved it. It is a perfect blend of old and new. The newest singles—“Lost In The Fall and Path” and “To Your Grave”—show and prove that the next LP is going to make Dying Wish explode. “I want us to push the limits,” vocalist Emma Boster told Kerrang! in May. “I want us to be playing to big rooms and being nominated for Grammys while still being authentically us. I love this scene. We all do. And we want to become one of the kind of metalcore masters we grew up with—a legendary act.” Not all crunch and dissonance here, Dying Wish peel off pure emotion in every track. There is nothing about the heaviness that feels diluted, and the result is one of the most uncompromising and brutal recordings in the annals of rock and roll. Look, the energy of the live set is unmatched. When you have an area of like-minded weirdos running around in a circle, occasionally slamming into each other with vigor and fervor … Well, it is the best thing ever. The pit is the place to be. Boundaries, Foreign Hands and Roman Candle open. Catch these acts at Kilby Court on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $20 and can be found here 24tix. com (Mark Dago)

A&E

THEATER Heber’s Charitable Acts Theatre dedicates itself to great productions and helping the community. BY: BRANDI CHRISTOFFERSEN comments@cityweekly.net

“M

Charitable Acts Theatre’s production of Arsenic & Old Lace vices & Food Bank (which provides food and support to vulnerable households and populations) have both benefited from the theater’s donations. Zabaldo says, “It feels wonderful to help out such worthwhile causes.” The board of the Charitable Acts Theatre—along with its members and the local community—decides which nonprofit organization they will be supporting for the year. The process is very collaborative, and every voice is heard. If you would like to donate to Charitable Acts Theatre, advocate for a specific cause, or reserve seats for 2024, contact them to become a part of the experience. CW

CHARITABLE ACTS THEATRE 503-539-8072 charitableactstheatre.org

from BYU and has directed dozens of plays. The Charitable Acts players also shared their plans for the upcoming year. “The past two shows were comedies—Steel Magnolias and Arsenic & Old Lace.” Zabaldo says. “Although I love comedies, I want our theater to explore all genres. So for our next production, we are going to do Our Town. It’s a classic, and a lot of people think it’s the best play ever written. It’s just so touching, and it allows the audience to connect with the experience.” After all, connection is what the theater is all about. By connecting to the audience, connecting to the art community and connecting to the public, the Charitable Acts Theatre continues to donate all their ticket proceeds to local organizations. Thus far, the Horse of Many Colors Foundation (which supports local families affected by cancer) and the Community Actions Ser-

| CITYWEEKLY.NET |

y hope is the company can have an impact on causes that matter to the members of our community,” says Carrie Zabaldo, creator and director of Charitable Acts Theatre. The reason: This local playhouse has put an appealing twist on community theater by donating 100% of its ticket sales to charitable causes. The unique yet seemingly simple idea was born when Zabaldo realized she wanted to combine two of her personal pleasures. As a young adult, Zabaldo loved performing in front of a live audience, which led to her degree in the performing arts. She took a break from the theater to focus on her family and four children, and it was during this time she discovered her fondness for volunteer projects and nonprofit causes. “One day it occurred to me, combine my passion for the theater with my passion for philanthropy,” she says. Zabaldo had no delusions about the amount of work it would take to build a foundation from the ground up, but she felt that, as a resilient mother and wife, she was ready for the challenge. In the beginning, the theater truly was a oneman show—or should we say one-woman show—but Zabaldo kept moving forward, and soon had put together a full team and staff. She confidently says, “Finding donors, financial support and volunteers is a true struggle, but I believe once people

know about us, the funding and assistance will start flowing in.” One of the greatest obstacles any young theater group faces is the lack of permanent stage space. While Zabaldo is grateful they have been able to use the Midway Town Hall for their performances, she admits that “it will be wonderful when we have our own brick-and-mortar building.” Fortunately, she has a talented team that has designed a temporary circular stage with surrounding stadium-like seating to ensure “everyone gets an open view of the performance.” One positive unexpected outcome from the lack of theater space was the spotlight it put on the apparent need for a local community center. This realization prompted city planners to push for the creation of the Heber Valley Arts Center. Currently, plans are in progress for a development that will be a home to all types of artistic projects, from performances and displays to education and classes. Zabaldo, who is a member of the Heber Valley Arts Center board, further explains that “with the proper funding, it will become a home to connect artists and their crafts to the community.” In the meantime, even with their numerous startup challenges, Charitable Acts Theatre has produced two successful plays, and is currently working on a third production. After each show, members of the audience have commented on the professionalism of the shows, and have wondered if the Charitable Acts Theatre is a traveling theater group. “I take that as very high praise.” says Zabaldo. For 2024, the team is also thrilled to announce the addition of the well-known and seasoned director, Kristen Hughes. “We are so lucky to have her on board. She is exceptionally talented, has a degree

QUINN CALDER

Acts of Charity

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theESSENTIALS NOVEMBER 16-22, 2023 Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

COURTESY PHOTO

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As much as humans try to understand things, we also kind of love the mystery of not understanding things. For many, that’s the appeal of magic and sleightof-hand, like the kind that magician Justin Willman has brought to three seasons of his Netflix series Magic for Humans—and now, to a Salt Lake City audience with Magic for Humans in Person. Magic for Humans finds Willman in person-on-the-street (or personin-a-mall) scenarios, amazing and delighting everyday folks with his gift for weird, wild up-close tricks and illusions, even as he connects them to a particular episode’s theme. In a season 3 episode focused on “Self-Care,” for example, Willman showed a woman how to remove the bags under his eyes by literally extracting a teabag from his eye socket and then giving himself a caffeine boost. In the episode about “Traditions,” his focus on becoming the “reverse Tooth Fairy” showed him putting a spin on the childhood tradition by instead turning money into teeth. And while contemplating death, disasters and “The End,” he demonstrated preparedness by slurping orange juice through a straw from a passerby’s clenched fist. That’s the same mix of wonder and whimsy that Willman brings to his all-agesappropriate live shows, making the unbelievable impossible to ignore as it happens right in front of your eyes. Justin Willman brings Magic for Humans in Person to Kingsbury Hall (1395 E. Presidents Circle) on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $41.25 - $56.25, and are available at kingsburyhall.org; visit the website for additional event information. (SR)

Justin Willman: Magic for Humans in Person

As easy as it is for anyone on the outside of a religious or cultural group to generalize, those on the inside know that the experiences are as unique as the humans who have them. And in Utah, “gentiles” might think they know the big picture of the LDS experience. But it was an interest in that specificity that inspired The Path and the Gate, a collection of short fiction pieces stemming from a prompt based on a quote from the prophet Nephi about the journey to eternal life as going through a gate of ordinances and traveling a “straight and narrow path.” Twenty-three writers took up the challenge for the volume edited by Andrew Hall and Robert Raleigh, creating tales at times based in the minutiae of real life, and times ranging into the fantastical. These journeys through faith and doubt take place in settings ranging from the slums of Mumbai to cyberspace to heaven itself (though not a simplistic puffyclouds version of heaven), and they follow characters dealing with challenges of reconciling their beliefs to the events of their lives, including a survivor of violence calling a divided community to repentance, On Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., The King’s English Bookshop (1511 S. 1500 East) hosts contributing writers David G. Pace, Annette Haws, Phyllis Barber and Larry Menlove for a reading of selections from The Path and the Gate. The event is free, but space is limited, and attendees should reserve a space via Eventbrite, where they can also pre-order a copy of the book for signing. Visit kingsenglish.com for reservation link and additional event information. (SR)

| CITYWEEKLY.NET |

Artistic competitions are a tricky matter—aesthetic judgments will always be extremely subjective—but they have plenty of advantages. Not only can they give less experienced creative people a plaudit to add to their résumés, but it can introduce them to the organizations where they compete in a way that builds relationships that continue even after the awards are distributed. That’s the case with Repertory Dance Theatre’s Venture program, a showcase of new world-premiere commissions for three choreographers who are all alums of the company’s annual Regalia competition. That includes Sweetspot by Regalia 2022 competitor Shane Urton, a work Urton describes as “a short work that aims to use movement to articulate and abstract various interpretations of what a sweet spot could be” using “many short constellations of dancers to inhabit different interpretations of sweet spots.” He is joined on the program by 2020 Regalia performer Rachel Barker, and 2023 Regalia winner Ruger Memmott. The evening-length show also features Polish choreographer Katarzyna Skarpetowska’s Oktet: In Situ—a full-company work set to a selection of Bach’s Goldberg Variations as arranged by composer François Meïmoun—as well as performers from RDT’s Prime Performance Workshop for dancers 55 and up, performing original choreography developed by Meghan Durham Wall exploring movement and the aging body. RDT’s Venture runs Nov. 16 – 18 at 7:30 p.m. nightly at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Jeanne Wagner Theater (138 W. 300 South). Tickets are $30; visit arttix.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

IZZY ARRIETA

RDT: Venture

SIGNATURE BOOKS

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A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week 2 Row Brewing 6856 S. 300 West, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com Avenues Proper 376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com On Tap: Midnight Especial- Dark Mexican Lager Bewilder Brewing 445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com On Tap: Festbier Bohemian Brewery 94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Desert Edge Brewery 273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com On Tap: La Playa-Mexican Style lager Epic Brewing Co. 825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com On Tap: 2023 Big Bad Baptist BarrelAged Imperial Stout Variants Fisher Brewing Co. 320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers! Grid City Beer Works 333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2 Helper Beer 159 N Main Street, Helper, UT helperbeer.com

Chappell Brewing 2285 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 Hopkins Brewing Co. chappell.beer 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC On Tap: Jelly Roll Cranberry Sauce Goss HopkinsBrewingCompany.com On Tap: Strawberry Zinfandel Sour Craft by Proper 1053 E. 2100 So., SLC Kiitos Brewing craftbyproper.com 608 W. 700 South, SLC On Tap: Purple Rain - Marionberry KiitosBrewing.com Helles

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com On Tap: Golden Sprocket Wit Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com On Tap: Wet Hopped - Infused with Cascade and Citra Hops Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/ On Tap: DOPO IPA Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenRiverBrewing.com On Tap: Injector Hazy IPA Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com On Tap: Cached Out Hefeweisen -- Now available to go! Proper Brewing 857 S. Main, SLC ProperBrewingCo.com On Tap: Whispers from Krakatoa - Helles Lager with Habanero and Mango Proper Burger: Sour Ranger Blackberry and Lemon Sour

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191 Moab, Utah 84532 On Tap: Angus McCloud- Scottish Ale

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek secondsummitcider.com On Tap: Pear Pink Peppercorn & Tarragon Cider

Stratford Proper 1588 Stratford Ave., SLC stratfordproper.com On Tap: Yacht Rock Juice Box Juicy IPA

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer On Tap: Slim Shady Gluten Friendly Light Ale | Live Music: Thursdays

TF Brewing 936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com On Tap: Lil Babs Single Hope Pale Ale

Shades On State 366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com On Tap: Hellion Blond Ale, an ode to Ellie, manager at Shades on State Karaoke: Wednesdays

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com On Tap: Witches Brew

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com On Tap: Munich Dunkel Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com On Tap: Twelve Twentyone Coffee Stout Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com On Tap: Identity Crisis Session West Coast Hazy Cold IPA – the name says it all! SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, S. Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com On Tap: Deep Dive Series - Rice Lager Draft Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com On Tap: Oktoberfest Vienna Lager Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com On Tap: Colorado Cider Grasshop-ah ABV 6.5%

Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George StGeorgeBev.com Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/squatters On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co’s Batch European Vacation Pilsner Squatters and Wasatch Brewery 1763 So 300 West Utahbeers.com On Tap: Tree Beard IPA w Fresh Spruce Tips and Simcone, Citra & Ekeanot Hops Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com On Tap: Three on the Tree’ Hoppy Lager Collaboration with Proximity Malt and Roy Farms Hops. Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com On Tap: Three on the Tree’ Hoppy Lager Collaboration with Proximity Malt and Roy Farms Hops.

Top of Main Brewing 250 Main, Park City, Utah saltlakebrewingco.com/wasatch On Tap: Utah Beer - An American Lager Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer UTOG 2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com On Tap: Golden Grant 5% ABV. Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com Wasatch Brew Pub 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/wasatch On Tap: Wasatch Salt Lime Cerveza Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com Zolupez 205 W. 29th Street #2, Ogden Zolupez.com

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164 | NOVEMBER 16, 2023 | CITY WEEKLY |

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pic - Big Bad Baptist (Chocolate Caramel, Sea Salt): This beer pours solid black, yet with prominent amber basal edges, and three fingers of puffy, rocky and somewhat fizzy brown head, which leaves some disintegrating iceberg-profile lace around the glass as it eventually recedes. It smells of Bourbon right off the bat (like I’m sticking my nose into a tumbler of the stuff), bready and doughy caramel malt, liquor-infused toffee candies, bittersweet cocoa powder, real vanilla, a touch of cafe-au-lait and some plain leafy, weedy and well-perfumed green hop bitters. The taste is rather sweet Bourbon (not just the barrel, the actual whiskey), medium dark chocolate, gritty and grainy caramel malt, bloated saltwater taffy, heavily-creamed coffee, a wisp of wet char, subtle dark orchard fruity notes, and more weak, earthy, leafy and soused-up floral verdant hoppiness. The carbonation is pretty laid-back in its genteel-seeming frothiness, the 12 percent ABV has body of an average weight, and it’s mostly smooth, in that same cognitively dissonant manner that one finds brown spirits “smooth.” It finishes on the sweet side, naturally, with the Bourbon shot experience now joined at the hip with the big-boy stout revue. Verdict: Barrel aside—this is certainly one of the more balanced barrel-aged stouts that I have ever come across—it slowly morphs with the base Imperial stout, with the cocoa and caramel parts creating a very pleasant and sometimes decadent Skor bar feel. You don’t notice the sea salt, though I suspect if it was missing, you’d probably find this much too sweet.

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When subtle just isn’t enough

Squatters - Juicy Imperial IPA: Well, there are a whole lot of descriptors listed on the side of this new Imperial IPA, but nothing about what the actual hops are. It seems to have everything though: mango, grapefruit, dank, sticky, pungent, kiwi, citrus, pithy, orange, nectar, and guava are just a few of my descriptors. It’s definitely hazy, and it’s light in color—a straw-gold/yellow beneath a full head of white foam. The aroma is pungent and pithy, and a touch piney. I’m getting guava, as well, and orange; there’s a very tropical wind vibe to it. I can only hope that the taste will be able to compare. It’s not nearly as sweet as I thought it would be, and I’m finding some coconut, which is welcome but not on the list of pretty much everything else they could think of to describe it. Back to the specifics, though, I’m finding orange and grapefruit, citrus pith, and mango. That coconut is still there, though. It’s OK, though fairly thin—let’s call it lightmedium in body—and crisp. With near zero IBUs, I think it works quite well. Thankfully, the 7.8 percent alcohol requires a sweeter base to keep the beer from becoming too boozy and hot. Verdict: This is an enjoyable Imperial IPA, for sure, hitting all of the notes that the juicy IPA lovers are looking for. The body will put some purists off, as it comes in on the low side of medium, and it does finish with a soda pop-like spritziness. Again, it doesn’t detract from the juicy flavors, but it might be a thing for some. On a hot day, I’d certainly enjoy one or two of these. This brand-new Imperial IPA from Squatters comes in 16-ounce cans, and can be found at Wasatch/Squatters Beer store and tavern. I enjoyed it at Salt Lake Brewing Co. (formerly Squatters). As for Epic’s BBB Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt, you find it in 16-ounce cans as well, alongside its five other BBB variants at DABS stores or at the brewery. As always, cheers! CW

Hop

MIKE RIEDEL

Imperial Ales

MIKE RIEDEL

NERD

BEER

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FILM

REVIEW Can’t Handle The Truth May December explores what pop-culture versions of true stories can’t know, or don’t even try to know. December BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

arly in May December, Gracie AthertonYoo (Julianne Moore) and her husband Joe (Charles Melton) are preparing for that most quintessential of American suburban activities: hosting a backyard barbecue. That event is doubling as the place where Gracie is set to meet Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman), the actress doing research for playing Gracie in a movie based on the tabloid-fodder case 20 years earlier where then-30-something-year-old Gracie had an affair with then-13-year-old Joe, which heightens the stress. So there’s an understandable tension to a scene in which director Todd Haynes slowly zooms in on Gracie opening her refrigerator, staring inside with an indecipherable expression as a borrowed Michel Legrand score intones ominously … and she says, “I don’t think we have enough hot dogs.” It’s a great deadpan joke, but as May December unfolds, it also feels like a perfect encapsulation of what screenwriter Samy Burch is up to. Using the bones of the infamous 1990s Mary Kay Letourneau case as inspiration, May December pokes at both the mundanity and the unknowability behind tales that seem impossibly strange. And it’s absolutely savage at examining the way we so often tell these stories in popular culture, while pretending at caring about their complexity.

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in May December

CINEMA

That latter notion emerges through the character of Elizabeth, played by Portman as a wonderfully unique kind of villain. Naturally, she doesn’t think of herself that way; Elizabeth might actually be convinced that she’s going to crack open Gracie’s psyche and find a complex, sympathetic human being beneath the sensational headlines. But she mostly seems kind of desperate for a part that will allow her to be taken seriously, or more seriously than the TV series for which she is bestknown, playing a veterinarian on the hilariously-named Nora’s Ark. She dutifully interviews various other people—Gracie’s ex-husband, her defense attorney—but is clearly most obsessed with the lurid aspects of the case, in the same way that Joe and Gracie’s neighbor at the barbecue knows Elizabeth mostly from Googling her nude scenes. Elizabeth may mouth platitudes to Gracie about her goal being to find “truth,” but her behavior makes that claim feel … let’s say disingenuous. Furthermore, it’s obvious that there’s no way she has access to all the truth she needs to really understand either Gracie or Joe. Part of the brilliance of Burch’s screenplay is that it’s only partially of-

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fered from Elizabeth’s point of view, with plenty of scenes taking place outside of the actor’s knowledge. We see Gracie’s emotional fragility as she bursts into heaving sobs over seemingly minor issues like Joe coming to bed smelling of smoke from the grill; we see Joe engaged in a text flirtation with a fellow monarch butterfly enthusiast (the chrysalis metaphor being one of the movie’s clunkier components); we see Joe having a conversation with their son Charlie (Gabriel Chung) in which Joe wrestles with how much the legacy of the affair might have damaged the kids. For every moment of insight that Elizabeth is allowed—like seeing Gracie passive-aggressively body-shame Charlie’s twin sister Mary (Elizabeth Yu)—there are a dozen moments she can never see, and some information she discovers that may or may not be reliable. What emerges is something that becomes an interesting sort of companion piece to two other Todd Haynes features— Far from Heaven and Carol—which looked beyond the surface placidity of suburban marriages to probe the psychological realities hidden from the rest of the world. The variation that May December serves

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up is one where the suburban marriage in question is presumed, based on its history, not to be placid, but still can’t possibly be completely understood by anyone on the outside. There are the stories Gracie and Joe tell to themselves about the beginnings of their relationship, the stories others tell about them, and then there’s the ordinary stuff that makes up most of all lives. When we ultimately see Elizabeth on the set of the movie she’s making, it’s presenting a version of Gracie seducing Joe while literally fondling a snake, like Eve in the garden provoking original sin. May December knows that if there’s a “truth” about Gracie, it’s somewhere between that overt melodrama and the anxieties of a housewife worried about how many hot dogs there will be at the barbecue. CW

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“Voices of Peace,” Nov. 12 Online News No mention of the heinous killings by Hamas that precipitated the current hostilities in Gaza. Your article implies that Israelis deserve what happened Oct. 7. City Weekly should be more careful to distinguish between the people of a country and its government. Hamas is no friend to the Palestinian people, and all people should have the right to be safe and free. PAMS127

Via Instagram

So proud of Utahns of conscience standing against genocide. There were easily over a thousand of us demanding a #ceasefirenow, and all these ugly comments aren’t going to stop us from showing support for #freepalestine. Keep it up y’all! DOOMSDAE

Via Instagram Palestinian terrorists supported by Iran massacred innocent Israeli civilians and children and took hundreds of hostages, including American citizens. There are consequences for attacking and murdering innocent human beings, i.e. war. _CHRIS_CRUSH

Via Instagram

For all of you commenting, believing somehow in your twisted minds that this is in support of Hamas or the kidnapping of 1,200 Israelis, this is not. This is a call to say that Israel’s response by bombing innocent Palestinians men, women and children is a war crime. The death toll in Gaza is near 10,000, which is horrific when more than half of that number are innocent children. If you haven’t seen the footage of these children missing body parts or having everyone in their family completely obliterated, you need to wake up! None of this should have happened, but there is a huge difference from what Western media is telling you and the truth. SOUL___PAUSE

Resistance is not terrorism? So raping women and slaughtering children is justified because of “resistance”? Kidnapping 240 innocent people and murdering 1,400 is OK? And you’re proud of it? WTF?! SAPZOHAR

Via Instagram

Via Instagram Are you out of your mind? Don’t you realize sympathizing with the “free Palestine” thing is to be complicit with Hamas and approving of kidnapping, slaughter-

ing, raping and murdering people at their homes? You are nothing more than fools in the service of Iran.

V3RULA

Via Instagram It reads like Salt Lake City Weekly is very sympathetic to these supporters of murderers. BTW, if you argue ancestral land, the Jews have been in Israel for millenia. It’s well documented. For peace to happen, the Arabs just have to put their arms down. In addition, dump Hamas. They have their share of blame misleading the Gaza populace into a tunnel existence. PETE EDWARD

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THE WATER

It’s Best of Utah week! What is your best anything? Scott Renshaw

Paula Saltas

Our City Weekly family. We have a really great crew who work so hard on getting the paper out each week, and they seem to love what they do. Especially the past six weeks, our great staff has worked like crazy to create this Best of Utah that you are reading now. Do you love this cover, or what?

Bill Frost

It’s the absolute best that I don’t have to be involved in the production of the Best of Utah issue anymore—ha!

Wes Long

My best side: Viewed from an aerial map

NOVEMBER 16, 2023 | 167

Best Work-in-Progress: The Folsom Trail. It may not look like much right now, but neither did the Jordan River and S-Line Trails when they were first being built. After daylighting City Creek and tons of new mixed-use development gets built (plus a potential MLB franchise on North Temple) the area is going to be hot as hell in 10 years, and that area deserves it after being smacked around for so long.

| CITY WEEKLY |

Benjamin Wood

My best thing is that I have the pleasure and privilege of being part of this process every year, and able to create a long list of “gotta go there,” gotta see that,” “gotta eat that.”

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COOLER

BY JOHN SALTAS

Fair Trade T

oo often, winter comes early for University of Utah football fans. For the past two years, Ute fans have traveled to Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl, where consecutive losses closed out each of those football seasons, leading to miserable winters of waiting till “next season.” That was especially so in early 2023, when the bitterly disappointed snow gods unleashed towers of powder in the Utah mountains after the Utes were leveled by Penn State. As it turned out, however, that snow was a welcome gift to Utah since—as even youngsters can recall—much of our water reserves were already depleted, and the Great Salt Lake was diminished to the point that a strong-armed fellow like Cam Rising could skip a stone across it. As those record snows melted—with only mild flooding thanks to all that snow melting into canyon waters at a steady pace—Utahns breathed a collective sigh of relief knowing that they could once again water their lawns and gardens without guilt. I’ve not seen much news as to whether Utah’s agricultural industries have reduced their usage, or if any alfalfa farmers cut back shipments of that legume family plant to China. I never knew alfalfa was a flowering legume until just now. Did you? Actually, fully 30% of Utah alfalfa ends up in China, taking with it the acres and acres of Utah water resources used to grow it. I’ve often wondered why MAGA-red Utah goes along with that. Like even yesterday, I was driving back from Lava Hot Springs, Idaho (what a nice day trip!), and no sooner had we crossed the border into Utah when we were met with an enormous Trump-Pence banner atop a giant truck sitting in an expanse of farmland. I took that to be the ultimate irony. Former President

@johnsaltas

168 | NOVEMBER 16, 2023 | CITY WEEKLY |

EYE

Trump has mockingly referred to China as “CHI-na, CHIna” over and over, alerting his followers to the fact the country is an international brand that can’t be trusted. Trump is all about brands, you know. Yet, his MAGA followers do business with and backdoor supply Communist China with goods and resources that might better help Americans. That doesn’t suggest Utah shouldn’t do business with China. Nor does it suggest alfalfa growers should not sell their crops. But if we’re going to ship our crops and water out of Utah, how about sending them to Mexico, where we might actually end up doing some good with it, like feeding the cattle that will feed our neighbors? As well, Mexico doesn’t aim missiles at us that may one day blow that giant Trump-Pence sign to smithereens. That would be a terrible way for China to thank our hardworking Utah alfalfa farmers. Our water supplies and the level of the Great Salt Lake could be greatly improved if our alfalfa farmers found another legume family crop to grow—like peas, maybe. Or lima beans or lentils. They probably could, you know, but so long as our diets tend toward eating massive amounts of protein in the form of steaks and cheeseburgers, those farmers will keep growing alfalfa, and China will keep drinking our water by feeding it to their cows. I don’t know what we get back for that. At least in Japan—also a huge USA alfalfa consumer—we are returned Kobe beef at just $200 per pound, the perfect table addition to nearly no Americans at all. It could be worse. Saudi Arabia—our “smart friends” who helped blow up the World Trade Center, killed the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, ruined professional golf with the LIV Golf Tour and put $2 billion into the pockets of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for reasons yet TBD— is also a giant importer of American alfalfa. This is also ironic. In 2018 (those nostalgic Trump-Pence years), Saudi

Arabia banned growing and harvesting alfalfa and other crops used as animal fodder because—get this—Saudi Arabia has limited water resources. Like zero. So they buy ours. Meanwhile in Arizona, Saudi companies and agents are buying and leasing huge swaths of acreage for the sole purpose of growing alfalfa and shipping it back to the Middle East. Now, that’s a kick in the teeth. The water they will use will come from covenants that allow for dispersal of waters flowing into Colorado River drainage. How much of that water begins as rain and snow in Utah? I was once a champion high school math contestant, so I can give you the only correct and exact answer right here: Too much. They don’t deserve a single drop, not even a snowflake’s worth. If you’re crying about what comes across our borders but don’t care what exits our borders, sit down. To that end, Utah has already enacted the Restrictions on Foreign Acquisitions of Land Act that restricts Utah lands being sold to foreign entities. Gov. Spencer Cox—himself of farmer lineage—signed the bill. The Cox farm grows mostly alfalfa, and he’s a fair defender of the alfalfa-growing industry. It’s not known if his own crop ends up in Beijing. Still, as a farmer, he’s intimately aware that Utah water is at a premium and that if not for last winter’s snows, his and many other Utah farms may have suffered even more this year. And here’s where I part with Gov. Cox. He thinks that prayer was responsible for Utah’s banner, reservoir-filling 2023 snow year. But that means Utah took water from somewhere else, and mysterious as God may be, he would not penalize one faithful tribe to benefit another. The truth lies elsewhere, dear governor—it snowed deeply because Utah lost the Rose Bowl game. But it was not a fair trade if we’re wasting the water. CW Send comments to john@cityweekly.net

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HITS & MISSES BY KATHARINE BIELE |

@kathybiele

HIT: Mineral Water

There’s good news for the Great Salt Lake—at least in the short-term. Compass Minerals will pause its lithium mining project amid concerns about effects on the lake, the Standard-Examiner reports. Lithium—used in batteries, including EVs—is probably the most valuable commodity on the planet, with “green energy” at the forefront. The problem is how to extract this product without leaving behind ecological disasters. And while there’s a lot of it in the world, extracting it from either saltwater brine or igneous rock isn’t easy. Mining lithium takes a lot of water—thousands of gallons a minute. While the Legislature is trying to make rules around extraction, it’s far from a solution. But at least for now, the lake has been given a reprieve.

MISS: Don’t Hold Your Breath

While lithium mining is on hold, bad air in the Salt Lake Valley is not. The Deseret News quoted Celeste Maloy, the presumptive winner of Rep. Chris Stewart’s congressional seat, saying this: “Either we need to be mining our minerals, or we have decided that national security is not important to us, and we’re willing to take a nosedive on our economy because we can’t produce the things that are necessary for the lifestyle to grow accustomed to.” So, public health be damned. The DNews just ran a story about air pollutionrelated heart attacks in summer and winter seasons, with more residents seeking care when fine particulate levels are high. The Salt Lake Tribune took up bad air in a front-page story about Salt Lake’s west-siders long being doomed to bad air and bad health. It’s obvious that everyone knows the problem, but the willingness to solve it is dampened significantly by the economic engines that run the state.

MISS: Campaign Bills

Every day we see another politician leaving office out of frustration. The public’s work isn’t getting done. So the question is why anyone would want to hold political office. The answer could be seen in recent disclosures from people like Attorney General Sean Reyes and Congressman Burgess Owens: It’s the money, stupid. The Salt Lake Tribune is trying to get more information on Reyes’ heavy spending on resorts, domestic and international trips and— like Trump’s boys—hunting excursions, much of which Reyes says are from his campaign funds. Campaigns are apparently expensive propositions, as Owens has paid his daughter some $150,000 since 2019 for “consulting,” including social media. His daughter does not appear to have any particular credentials, but Owens says she’s “a brilliant woman who has been rightfully compensated for her service to my campaign.” It costs next to nothing to write those tweets. But KUER notes that Owens additionally has spent some $2.6 million on consulting. If you can get it, it’s a pretty good gig. CW

BY BRYAN YOUNG

Yardstick of Progress

hey’re finally demolishing that building. You know the one—right downtown, on Broadway (300 South), next to Rich’s Burgers and Junior’s Tavern. The one that’s been vacant longer than many have been alive—boarded up, tagged, empty. You probably knew it as the old Yardstick building. Not because you remember a fabric store there called the Yardstick, just because that was the only legible sign on the building for the past 30 years. I prefer to think of it as the old Victory Theater, not because I ever saw a movie there—I haven’t been alive long enough to have had that pleasure. It’s just because I like theaters. That was the site of the first sound movie ever projected in Salt Lake City. They played The Jazz Singer in 1928, giving them that important distinction. The building has a lot of history that’s worth remembering as it’s being torn down once and for all. The most historic event that happened there was likely the 1943 fire in the theater that killed three firefighters when the balcony collapsed on them as they fought the blaze on the ground floor. Naturally, the property owners—then the Auerbach family—had built the balcony (which was the only place where Black patrons could watch movies) without safety in mind. It wasn’t designed to hold the weight of the audience and the projector equipment. After that fire, the theater was pretty much history. It got sold and remodeled and the front of the building became mostly retail, including the Yardstick. The Yardstick was the last business to stay open in the building, but they shuttered in 1992: 31 years ago. The owners of the property didn’t seem interested in doing anything with it but keeping it. And now it’s getting torn down. Interesting that there weren’t any folks handcuffing themselves to this important bit of city theater history to prevent its demolition. Whatever is being put in place of the old Victory theater, I hope it honors what came before; maybe even by including a theater. Downtown is growing rapidly, and we have that whole housing crisis thing. It might be too much to ask for a beautiful one-room movie palace and an entire skyscraper of affordable housing to replace the vacant building. That would be amazing, but probably not likely unless the city were able to use eminent domain to take the property and do something sensible with it. I don’t have faith in private developers. With our luck, it’ll end up being a monstrous, beige, stucco, luxury condo situation, with a private gym on the bottom floor to give the illusion of “street activation.” We can all probably agree, though, that the worst-case scenario is to level it and replace it with a gravel parking lot, just like the Zephyr Club. CW

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Rewind Volume 13: 1996 to 1997 years of

salt lake

CITY WEEKLY BY WES LONG wlong@cityweekly.net

any things were transpiring around Salt Lake City and Utah during Private Eye Weekly’s 13th year. Judging from our news coverage, it appeared to be a period of rather blunted human compassion. Utah families were feeling the effects of social program cuts and a disproportionate tax rate. Gnashing of teeth continued among state Republicans over the national monument designation of Grand Staircase-Escalante. And there were other tensions, such as squabbles over planning a light rail system, a chemical weapons incinerator in Tooele and outcry against the Utah Department of Corrections following the death of inmate Michael Valent, who had been strapped naked to the “Violent Prisoner Chair” for 16 hours. But not all was rancor and greed: pastor Wayne Wilson of the Salt Lake City Mission sheltered homeless citizens from a fatally cold winter; city local Richard Lee Larson rescued a 4-year-old child from a burning house; animal adoptions at the Humane Society outpaced euthanization; and the Lowell Bennion Center at the University of Utah began offering credit for service projects with local agencies. For Private Eye Weekly, notable developments included food and internet directories (“Nibbles” and “Web.runner”) and the additions of Bill Frost on the local music scene and Richard Barnum-Reece on sports. The paper hosted a convention for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN). And Tom Walsh departed as managing editor, with Christopher Smart succeeding him, capping off another significant publication cycle with one final announcement. Commencing its 14th year on June 5, 1997, the paper would henceforth be known as Salt Lake City Weekly.

Remembering Vol. 13: In the mayor’s office

“Deedee Walks,” declared the headline for Lynn Packer’s Sept. 12 cover story. Having been under the shadow of possible indictment since 1992—Mayor Deedee Corradini was informed by U.S. Attorney David Schwendiman that she was no longer a target of the Bonneville Pacific grand jury probe. Nevertheless, the close of one sorry tale opened the door to yet another scandal that would reverberate through 1996 and 1997: “Gift-gate.” “The government’s Bonneville Pacific probe was the most extensive fraud investigation in Utah history,” Packer wrote. “[It]

uncovered a massive securities and tax fraud, which used offshore corporations and bank accounts to loot corporate funds, launder the money back into the United States and then evade taxes with the use of phony ‘loans’ to the principals.” Having indicted Bonneville CEOs Robert Wood and Raymond Hixson, company president L. Wynn Johnson and corporate attorney David Hirschi—with John Dunlop and Carl Peterson pleading guilty before indictments came—the investigation remained stuck when it came to Corradini and her thenhusband Yan Ross. It was delayed for years in part due to interventions from Sen. Orrin Hatch and from Harold Christensen, Corradini’s attorney. “I think the skids were greased a long time ago,” said a source near the investigative task force. Wood, Johnson and Hixson got deals in exchange for providing testimony. Dunlop pleaded guilty early and then provided contradictory statements, damaging his usefulness as a witness and effectively shielding Corradini from accountability by taking primary responsibility himself. “In the end, Corradini had a lot going for her,” concluded Packer. “Whether the game was fair and aware or fixed, Corradini won.” Saved from indictment, yet obliged to pay a settlement of $800,000 to Bonneville trustee Roger Segal, Corradini claimed the settlement would be “devastating,” potentially forcing her to sell her home. “The settlement was not intended to leave them destitute,” replied a confused Segal. “She had the resources to be able to pay it herself, from the analysis we did, from her assets.” The settlement amount was paltry compared to the estimated $1.7 million that Corradini and Ross took out of Bonneville Pacific. Rather than using only her personal finances to pay the debt, Corradini solicited over $200,000 from prominent Salt Lake business persons and local unions. The “gifts” were not public knowledge, but after inquiring for months and taking the mayor to court, Packer discovered how the settlement was being paid. Having ignored the Bonneville saga, the local dailies jumped to report on Corradini’s revealed donor list, now a scandal in itself. “Gift-gate” was underway. “I am honored that we had so many wonderful friends who were able to step forward and help us with no questions and no expectations,” Corradini stated. Her reference to “expectations” no doubt referred to Utah’s ethics law, which prohibited officials from

soliciting gifts if it “tends to influence [them] in the discharge of [their] official duties.” Stonewalling media inquiries, Corradini was entering a “bunker mentality” by the end of 1996, in Christopher Smart’s estimation. Hiring Ron Yengich for her defense strategy and requesting an investigation by thencounty District Attorney Neal Gunnarson, the mayor was determined to forge ahead. Corradini was indeed a fighter, Katharine Biele observed on Dec. 12, fighting for “a cause that few understand but many accept, apparently, because they think she’s a good mayor—with enormous personal financial problems. How those personal problems intersect with her political and administrative duties is an important ethical issue for government, but appears to have little effect on the public as a whole.” Salt Lake City Council members Deeda Seed and Joanne Milner pushed an effort to retain counsel for the city’s own investigation of “Gift-gate,” hiring Rhode Island Ethics Commission Director Martin Healey for the job. Corradini ducked and delayed Healey’s requests for an interview as well as attempts to obtain information from her staff. Gunnarson concluded the law was too vague and there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing on Corradini’s part. Healey, on the other hand, found that the “special privileges” prohibited in the law did indeed include the money she solicited from individuals and entities that were doing business with the city. Thirteen of the 27 gift-givers were not “friends,” but rather strong-armed into currying favor with the mayor. Corradini walked once more, but the Utah Legislature amended the ethics law in 1997 in response to the scandal. “Yes, you have all been scammed to death by Deedee, and you don’t care anymore, because nothing, not a single damned thing happens to her as a result of her misbehavior,” John Harrington fumed on Aug. 21, 1997. “Well, apathy and greed created her, and that’s how she gets away with it.”

In the ads

“Coming,” promised an advert in the July 4 issue, “the almost paperless paper.” The public could soon rejoice, for Private Eye Weekly was on the web! Designed by Eric Jacobsen and with access provided by aros.net, readers could check for daily updates at slweekly.com, this paper’s original address. A simple notice, perhaps, but all vast and imposing outfits begin simply. Even us.

In the shops

Visiting Jim’s Hat Shop (formerly in the Brooks Arcade Building at 268 S. State), Marsha Barber surmised in June 1996 that proprietor Jim Basamakis (1921-2000) did not wish to be seen as a novelty. But “it’s not the press that is turning Basamakis and old-time small businesses like his into novelties,” she added. “The high-impact corporatization of downtown that is currently taking place at a fever pitch is quickly accomplishing that task.” Department stores like Auerbach’s and Paris, taverns like the Golden Gate, and mom-and-pop cafes like the Beehive and the Mint were long gone—casualties to redevelopment and shopping malls. By next year the beloved Deseret Gym would face the wrecking ball. At the time of Barber’s story, mainstays such as Sam Weller’s Bookstore, Lamb’s Restaurant and Broadway Shoe Repair were going strong, but they were exceptional cases in a downtown once colorfully alive with foot traffic and quirky holes in the wall. Supplanted by Gallivan Plaza, the First Interstate Bank Building and American Plaza, these downtown spaces were, to Barber’s observation, rather sterile. “Unlike the blueprints for cities like Portland, Oregon, the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency’s long-term plan for the core downtown city center does not allow for much balance between small and large, old and new,” Barber wrote. “Consequently, the establishments that give the city its unique flavor just might not fit into the downtown that will welcome the world in 2002.” Basamakis’ shop was but one example of holdouts from a bygone era. Another was Snappy Service Lunch (formerly at 57 S. State), which originated in 1902 and specialized in burgers, fries, meat pies and Spambased dishes. For proprietor Morris “Morrey” Daras, the experience of losing a once-steady customer flow as a consequence of downtown closures had been difficult to witness. “You hate to give the business up,” Daras said, “even if you aren’t making any money. And I still have a few of my regulars. But not enough to keep me alive forever.” When his lease came up in 2001, Daras’ Snappy Service Lunch relocated to Jordan Commons in Sandy. Larry Miller—who owned Jordan Commons—had been a longtime customer. A Snappy Service sign still hangs on a wall of Jordan Commons’ Megaplex Theatres, a reminder of what had once been a Salt Lake institution.CW

free will ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

I would love you to experiment with blending the sacred and mundane. Bring your deep self into the daily routine and imbue ordinary rhythms with tender care. Here are fun rituals to get you in the groove: 1. Say prayers or chant ecstatic poems while you’re shopping. 2. Build a shrine in a parking lot. 3. Stir up an inspired epiphany while doing housework. 4. If you find yourself in a confusing or awkward situation, dance like a holy person to conjure a blessing. 5. Commune with the Divine Creator during crazy-good sex.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

If you’re given a choice to advocate for either a dull, mediocre truth or a beautiful, invigorating truth, give your love to the latter. If you wonder whether you should ask a polite question that engenders harmony or a provocative question that pries loose agendas that have been half hidden, opt for the latter. If you feel nostalgic about an old tradition that stirs up little passion or fresh insight, let it go. Instead, dream up a new tradition that moves you emotionally and excites your mind.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

I’ve met many people who feel their love lives are jinxed. Often, they believe this nonsense because a creepy fortune-teller declared they will forever be denied a satisfying intimate relationship. I hate that! Any astrologer who delivers such crippling bewitchments should be outed as a charlatan. The good news for you, Taurus, is that you are in a grace period for all matters regarding romance, intimacy and togetherness. If you have ever worried there is a curse, obstruction or bad habit inhibiting your love life, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to free yourself from it.

Icelandic singer Bjork is a triple Scorpio, with sun, moon and ascendant in your sign. Neptune is there, too, giving her even more Scorpionic intensity. It’s not surprising that she describes her daily practice like this: “I have to re-create the universe every morning when I wake up and kill it in the evening.” In another quote, she places greater emphasis on the rebirth: “To wake up in the morning and actually find the day exciting is the biggest victory you can have.” In accordance with current astrological omens, I invite you to exalt and celebrate the post-resurrection aspects of your life’s work. It’s time for you to shine and sparkle and shimmer and bedazzle.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Many cultures have rites of passage to mark the transformation from childhood to puberty. In ancient Greece, for example, kids formally relinquished their toys, symbolizing the intention to move into a new phase of their destinies. In accordance with astrological omens, I want to tweak this custom for your use, Capricorn. I propose that you embrace your second childhood. Fantasize about how you might refurbish your innocence, curiosity, playfulness and spontaneous joy. Then select an object that embodies a burdensome or unpleasant aspect of adulthood. Discard it. Find an object that signifies the fresh young spirit you’d like to awaken within you. Kiss it, sing to it and keep it in a prominent place.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

For advice about money, I talk with a banker who sometimes analyzes financial trends using Tarot cards. To keep abreast of politics on the ground level, I consult with a courtesan who has a Ph.D. in political science and cultivates intimate relations with governmental leaders. For guidance about rowdy ethics and etiquette, I seek input from an activist singer in an all-women punk band. How about you, Aquarius? Now is a favorable time to take an inventory of your posse of teachers, helpers and counselors. Make sure it’s serving you well and providing maximum inspiration and support. Hot tip: It may be time to add a new facilitator or two to your entourage.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Now and then, you glide through freedom from cosmic compulsion. During these periods, fate has a reduced role in shaping your destiny. Your past doesn’t have its typical power to limit or entrance you. According to my analysis, you are now enjoying such a chapter. I predict an infertile status quo will crumble. A boring, inflexible rule will become irrelevant. These breakthroughs will give you extra leeway to innovate and invent. You will have a big, bright emptiness to work and play around in.

Go to realastrology.com for Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text-message horoscopes. Audio horoscopes also available by phone at 877-873-4888 or 900-950-7700.

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Virgo musician and actor Shirley Manson has a message for you. She testifies, “I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool.” This will be especially helpful and inspirational counsel for you in the coming months, dear Virgo. The wish to appear chic or trendy or hip should be so far down on your list of priorities that it drops off the list entirely. Your assignment is to be passionately devoted to your deepest truths, unique desires and imaginative experiments.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

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Dear Sun, our one and only star: We love you and appreciate you! It’s amazing that you consume 5 million tons of yourself every second to generate the colossal energy you send in our direction. Thank you, beloved Sun! Is it OK with you if we think of you as a god? You are a superpowered genius of nourishment! And by the way, do you know who adores you the best? I’ll tell you: the Leo people here on Earth. They comprehend your grandeur and majesty better than anyone else. Would you consider giving them extra rewards in the coming weeks? They need and deserve a massive delivery of your bounty. Please fill them up with even more charisma, personal magnetism, vitality and generosity of spirit than usual. I promise they will use it wisely.

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I would love to see you intensify your devotion to your masterpiece—however you understand “masterpiece.” It could be a work of art or an innovation in your job or business. It could be a new baby, an adopted pet, a redefinition of what family means or an invigorated community. Might even be a beautiful alliance or enhanced connection with the divine or a refinement of the best gift you give the world. Life will conspire to help you in unexpected ways during the coming months if you rededicate yourself to this treasure.

I prophesy that what has been lost will be found. What was last may not catapult all the way into the first spot, but it might—and will at least be close to the first. Here are more zingers for you as you move into the climactic stages of the Season of Turnarounds and Switcheroos: A difficult test will boost your intelligence; a rut will be disrupted, freeing you to find a smooth new groove; an unsettling twist will ultimately bring you delightful support. To get the best out of the upcoming challenges, Sagittarius, welcome them as opportunities to expand your understanding of how the world works.

Software Engineer (5) - sought by Snap Inc. (Lehi, UT) *Hybrid work permitted - Snap practices a “default together” approach & expects team members to work in Lehi ofc at least 80% of time (avg 4 days/wk). Dsgn, dvlp & modify s/ware apps & sys. Base salary: $174,000-$251,000/yr. Eligible for discretionary performance-based bonus award. Eligible for equity in form of RSUs. Our Benefits: https://careers. snap.com/benefits. Email Resume: apply2snap@snap.com. Ref. Job Code #SWE5-UT-1023-VK. EOE.

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Gemini comedian Drew Carey says, “If I didn’t run from my fears, I wouldn’t get any exercise at all.” After analyzing the astrological omens, I believe that as 2023 draws to a close and 2024 unfolds, you will feel less and less motivated to run from your fears. In part, that’s because you will face them with more courage and poise; they won’t have the same power over you. In addition, I suspect your fears will become objectively less scary. They will be less likely to come to pass. More and more, your fine mind will see how they trick you into imagining they’re more threatening than they truly are. Congratulations in advance, Gemini!

Lead Data Scientist @ Finicity Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT) F/T Empwr cnsumrs & create busnss value. Dsign mdels & wrk to dploy slutions to Fnancial Institutns, FinTechs, Small & Medium Busnsses, Lrge Entrprises, Cnsumrs, Gov agncies & rltd Ecsystms. Mstr’s dgree or frgn eqvlnt in Cmptr Scnce, Data Scnce, Mthmtics, Statstics or rltd & 2 yrs of exp in job offrd or as a Prgrmmr Anlyst, Data Engnr or rltd. Altrntvly, emplyr will accpt a Bchlr’s dgree & 5 yrs of prgrssvly rspnsbl exp. Qulfyng exp mst inclde at lst 1 yr wth ech of the fllwng: Machine Learning; Deep Learning; Artificial Intelligence; Python; SQL; Data Governance; Splunk; SAS; Advanced Statistics. Rate of Pay: $156,000.00213,000.00 / year. Emplyr will accpt any suitble combo of edu, training, or exp. Optn to wrk frm hme-bsed office few days a week exists. Must reside withn Salt Lake City, Utah metropolitn area or nrmal commute area. Send resume to Kyle Byrd, Kyle.Byrd@mastercard.com, 434 Ascension Way, Salt Lake City UT 84123. Ref MC111-2023.

BOWL CUT

BY DAVID LEVINSON WILK

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Uncooked 2. Obamacare, for short 3. Director Van Sant 4. Behaves improperly 5. Assignment from a piano teacher 6. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” org. 7. Suffix with glob or nod 8. Grammy winner Chick 9. Engages in thievery 10. Break into pieces

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Green Budgeting

11. “Moonstruck” Oscar winner 12. Warren of the Warren Commission 13. Amazon Handmade rival 19. Since, in Spanish 21. They point the way 23. Debit alternative 24. Fritz the Cat illustrator 25. It launched ChatGPT in 2022 27. Before 29. Sustainability prefix 31. Enjoys a homecooked meal 32. Like most horror movies 33. Red giants in the night sky 36. “Don’t delay!” 39. Periods of recuperation 40. Amer. currency 43. Very serious 45. Womb-related 47. Patronize, as a motel 51. Neglect 52. Term of address in colonial India 53. Batted but didn’t field, in MLB lingo 54. Wander

55. Foreboding sign 57. Off-white color 59. Trapeze artist’s security 61. Latvia, once: Abbr. 62. Wide shoe spec 63. Source of many ‘60s trips

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

1. Sellers of cloth scraps 7. Bay Area sch. 11. Middling grade 14. Mental sharpness 15. Tolkien franchise, for short 16. It may be tipped 17. “How’s it goin’?” 18. Nook and Kindle 20. Start of many recipe steps 22. With enthusiasm 23. “Time in a Bottle” singer Jim 26. Kingdoms 28. ATM printout: Abbr. 29. Period of interest to a historian 30. Passover meals 34. “De dónde ____?” (Spanish 101 query) 35. “Downton Abbey” countess 37. Approaches 38. Brownish gray 39. Unfashionable unisex hairstyle ... and this puzzle’s theme 41. Bit of ink 42. Politician’s concern 44. Watches the kids 45. Arthur Ashe Stadium org. 46. Danny’s gang in “Grease” 48. Conclusion 49. Stadium-seating level 50. Conductor Toscanini 52. Calls (for) 53. Didn’t pull over 56. Become tiresome 58. Folksy 60. One might be involved in making a bust 64. New Year’s ____ 65. Stun with a zapper 66. Gets the shampoo out 67. Room for movie night 68. [Ignore that edit] 69. Got a ride through an app

SUDOKU X

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174 | NOVEMBER 16, 2023

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

think it’s safe to say that we all want to have a healthy planet and that anything we can do to be greener and more eco-friendly will help—even just a little. Owning a home and attempting to go greener can be costly, but a recent study from Rewiring America has come up with ways to budget, reducing your impact on global warming, to wit: If you have less than $500, you can change out your light bulbs and even some fixtures to be more energy efficient. Incandescent bulbs are history, so installing compact fluorescent lighting or light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDS) will save you hundreds in electric bills each year. Installing a smart thermostat so you can turn down the heat or up your AC temperature in the summer while you’re not home is really great now that we can control these things with our phones. The estimated savings for both these items is $480. With a budget of $1,000 to $5,000, you can install an electric charger for your electric vehicle, which should cost around $2,500 and save you roughly $1,000, plus a 30% tax credit. Another item that will help is to slowly replace your windows, a few at a time, within your yearly budget of under $5,000. It’s extremely inexpensive to blow more insulation into your attic to save on heating and cooling bills—usually under $5,000. Also for less than $5,000, you can install a more efficient water heater and/or a heat pump water heater. Hell, for less than $100 you can wrap your water heater now in insulation and that will save you money and help save the planet! Another website, greenamerica.org, found that in many households, the clothes dryer is the third-most energy-hungry appliance after the refrigerator and washer. Air-drying your clothes can reduce the average household’s carbon footprint by a whopping 2,400 pounds a year. According to the Netherlands Statistical Office, 75% of households in the U.S. own a clothes dryer, but about half of households in Europe own one. According to FEMA, clothes dryer vents become clogged with lint and cause up to 15,000 house fires every year. You can dry your clothes outside in good weather but many find it hard to commit to doing that in the winter. Find a space in your basement or storage area to dry clothes and get a clothes rack off the web. Get a floor fan and turn it on a low setting to dry the items and you will find that you will use a lot less electricity than you would use when operating a dryer. Also, drying clothes inside can have an added benefit, as it helps to keep indoor winter air moist like a low-tech humidifier. n Content is prepared expressly for Community and is not endorsed by City Weekly staff.

Graphic Designer (Draper, UT) Responsible for (1) creating visually appealing marketing materials for the franchise, including print ads, flyers, menus, banners, & digital ads; (2) designing various restaurant collateral, such as menu boards, signage, uniforms, & packaging; (3) creating engaging and visually appealing content for the franchise’s social media channels, such as Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. 40hrs/wk, Offered wage: $33,530/year, Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design / Visual Design or related required. Resume to CUPBOP CO Attn: Yeiri Kim, 12184 S Business Park Dr #C, Draper, UT 84020

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NEWS of the WEIRD

We sell homes to all saints, sinners, sisterwives and...

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

Be Careful What You Ask For

A store in Swansea, Wales, that supports the Barnardo children’s charity has circulated an important request to its donors, United Press International reported on Oct. 27: Please don’t send us your sex toys. “Please be mindful that we are a children’s charity and, as such, we have a range of ages on our wonderful volunteer team,” the store’s statement read. “We therefore ask that you refrain from donating your used and unused marital aids! ... The branch has CCTV so that these items can be traced back to their owners.” In other words, we know who you are.

Ewwwww!

Desirae Kelly of Farmington, Missouri, woke up at 5 a.m. on Oct. 24 to a strange feeling. “I actually felt something move in my ear,” Kelly said in a TikTok video. Fox News reported that Kelly was in such discomfort, she started to cry in the waiting room at urgent care. As a nurse started to flush her ear with water, Kelly “felt whatever that was crawl out of my ear ... and I watched out of the corner of my eye something fall and land on my sweater,” Kelly said. “I watch this black spider with all eight legs crawl across the floor.” She said she screeched and threw up as the nurses trapped the spider in a container. “The nurses were so sweet and passed no judgment like I thought they would,” Kelly said. “I don’t think I could ever sleep without earplugs again.”

It’s Come to This

What’s in a Name?

Questionable Judgment

Georgia, has updated its menu with an addendum: Patrons will get a surcharge if they are “unable to parent”—$50 per bill for misbehaving kids—NBC10 Philadelphia reported. A Google review from diner Lyndsey Landmann described a “huge scene” made by the owner in front of the whole restaurant: “He got in our faces and told us that we belonged at Burger King and not at his restaurant,” Landmann said. “He was yelling.” The owners, however, said they weren’t going to “comment on a policy we’ve had for years. We just want to live in the woods and cook.”

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News You Can Use

Bet you didn’t know that every year, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials distribute oral rabies vaccines to raccoon populations in 14 states, driving around and targeting areas where the critters will find and eat the bait. But, as NPR reported, in rural communities, it’s more efficient to drop the little packets from low-flying planes. “The planes have a tube and a conveyor belt that just drops these vaccines to make sure they’re sort of evenly dispersed,” said journalist Emily Mullin. Jordona Kirby with the USDA said the trick was to make the vaccines palatable to a raccoon, so they come in a fish flavor and a sweet flavor. If other animals find and eat the packets, it won’t hurt them.

Inexplicable

Two unsuspecting visitors to Wortham Park in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 26 were the victims of a teenager’s scream for attention, KHOU-TV reported. Alford Lasean Lewis, 19, and 18-year-old Kingston Miker cooked up a scheme wherein Lewis first tried to rob a man and then sucker-punched another man in the back of the head, as Miker filmed the actions. “They did this for fun and posted it on social media, which is simply unacceptable,” said Ashlea Sheridan, a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s office. Lewis was contrite: “You know, I just made a mistake, and everybody makes mistakes,” he told KHOU. “What people don’t see is that I shook his hand after and gave the man a hug.” Oh well, then. Case closed.

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As college antics go, it stands up: On Oct. 25, someone wearing a giant penis costume was escorted out of the stands at a football game between Sam Houston State University and the University of Texas at El Paso, Huff Post reported. A school spokesperson said the prankster was given “the option to take the costume off or leave the stadium.” Sam Houston was winning the game until the phallic fan was removed; they lost 37-34.

n The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge,

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Too many words, according to officials in Spain. Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, the 17th duke of Huescar, recently baptized his second child with a name 25 words long, Sky News reported. The name pays tribute to the baby’s mother and father, other members of the family and religious devotions. But register rules limit a child’s name to one compound name and two simple ones, and the duke and his wife will need to shorten the name for legal purposes.

is on paid administrative leave and under investigation after he dressed up in devil horns and waved a pitchfork over students’ heads on Oct. 25, KPNX-TV reported. Student Nathaniel Hamlet, who reported the incident to his dad, said the teacher said, “Hail, Satan” as he waved the pitchfork. “Some people thought it was funny, some people didn’t like it,” said Hamlet, who was insulted by the costume. For his part, the teacher said he was dressing up for Spirit Week at the school and was part of a “dynamic duo” with the teacher next door, who dressed as an angel. “Participating in spirit weeks like this is a way for me to engage with my students and bring fun to my classroom,” he said. “It’s truly not any more complicated than that.” Mesa Public Schools said in a statement that the investigation is ongoing.

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A 75-year-old woman in Pavia, Italy, had to get the courts involved to get her two sons, ages 42 and 40, out of her house, CNN reported on Oct. 27. Mom described her sons as “parasites” who had been living with her without contributing financially, even though both had jobs. Judge Simona Caterbi called the brothers “bamboccioni,” or big babies, and declared they have until Dec. 18 to vacate the woman’s home. “Once a certain age has been exceeded, the child can no longer expect the parents to continue the maintenance obligation within limits that are no longer reasonable,” Caterbi said. The brothers hadn’t decided whether they would appeal the decision.

The Continuing Crisis n An unnamed teacher at Mesa High School in Arizona

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41 2 W 6 0 0 N | S LC 2 1 + | Fu l l L i q u o r | Tu e s - S at | $5 Cove r *

2 022

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@clucktruckutah

We Cater!