Sundance 2020 is almost here, and we wanted to introduce you to the team that will be bringing you all the best Sundance coverage! Be sure to stay tuned for the latest reviews, celebrity selfies, photos, interviews and so much more!
Jaime Winston — A former Salt Lake magazine intern, web editor, family blogger and weird guy in the office, Jaime now writes for us on a freelance basis. At this year’s Sundance Film Fest, he hopes to be terrified while reviewing films in the Midnight section, but he’s pretty sure that will really happen while watching a few documentaries bring horrible truths to light. If he’s not waitlisting at the Rose Wagner theater, you may find him ogling baked goods at The Rose Establishment.
David Shuff — David spent years running around the world, most specifically Japan, Utah and the L.A. film industry before finally settling down in his almost-native Florida, with occasional stints back in Utah as needed, like for Sundance. Watch this space for his videos of the action. “I love feeling the energy of Main Street during the festival. For a short time, Park City becomes the center of the film industry’s universe.”
Natalie Simpson — SLC photographer Natalie Simpson will be braving the cold in Park City for several red carpet premieres at Sundance this year. This will be her 7th consecutive year shooting the film festival for Salt Lake Magazine. Natalie is most looking forward to being in one of George Pimentel’s famous group shots, where he convinces an actor to pose with the paparazzi (some favorites from Sundance’s past are James Franco, Jon Hamm and Jack Black). She is not looking forward to most likely being the shortest photographer on the red carpet.
Stuart Graves “celebrity searcher” — It’s a great, eclectic mix of folks at Sundance. More so this year than ever. Scheduled to participate in Sundance 2020 is everyone from Hillary Clinton, to Taylor Swift, to Anthony Hopkins. Stuarts number one celeb selfie hope? Bette Midler! She is an icon! He’d love to meet her and get a photo. That’s what Stuart is looking forward to the most.
Michael Mejia — Many of Michael’s most anticipated films of this festival come from the World Cinema categories, tales of immigration and justice from Mexico and Guatemala, Ai Wei Wei’s documentary on the 43 disappeared students of Ayotzinapa, rural disintegration in Venezuela. Massoud Bakhshi’s Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness, may be at the top of his list. It’s a fiction film, based on real events, about a young Iranian woman seeking forgiveness for murdering her husband via a live, reality television program. The director is skipping Sundance in protest of our current administration’s war spasm, but we’re fortunate to still have this opportunity to get a glimpse of contemporary life in Tehran. And just so Michael’s slate’s not (quite) all darkness, he’s looking forward to the return of the Ross brothers (whose Western he loved in 2015), documenting the last night of a Vegas dive bar, and Jumbo, a film from France about a woman whose romantic interest is a Tilt-a-Whirl. Bien sûr. Oh, and Isabella Rossellini, one of this year’s jurors!
Kaitlyn Christy — Kaitlyn is the Web Editor for Salt Lake Magazine. This will be Kaitlyn’s first Sundance. She is thrilled to be apart of such an incredible team. She will be covering films and fashion at Sundance. Kaitlyn is looking forward to (hopefully) getting to meet Hillary Clinton and experiencing the alluring energy of Sundance.
Inspired by @oldsaltlake, we're celebrating #throwbackthursday with a favorite snapshot of early 20th century Salt Lake City. 🏖️
Photos shared by @oldsaltlake are inspiring millennials and zoomers decades later with visions of a different city: one with easily accessible public transportation, walkable streets, local businesses (open late) and distinctive architecture.
See more photos at the link in our bio.
Pictured: Women relax at what is believed to be Saltair Beach, date unknown...
It's like sunshine in a box ☀️
Even after losing her job during the pandemic, Mandy Madsen didn't lose her good cheer. She put her energy into creating @maddoughslc, selling unique doughnuts inspired by the nostalgia of your favorite childhood treats.🍩
Read our Q&A with Mandy at the link in our bio!...
@saltlakeclimbers are part of a long legacy of dirt baggers fascinated with the soaring granite walls of Little Cottonwood Canyon. They recently finished the Alpenbock Loop, creating an accessible, sustainable trail and preserving access to one of Utah's greatest recreational resources. 🧗♀️
Read more at the link in our bio! ❤️...
The bad news: Utah's inconsistent winters are hurting local bee populations. The good news: You can be a part of saving the bees in the beehive state 🐝
@deserethivesupply, a family-owned business in Ogden, is helping bees bounce back with educational classes that encourage people to pick up backyard beekeeping as a hobby.
Read more on how to save Utah bees at the link in our bio!...
Why did Utah's only Titanic passenger not survive her journey?
The descendants of Irene Corbett believe that the 30-year-old teacher sacrificed her life to save others. It's one of the many ways this remarkable figure bucked tradition and forged her own trail.
Read more about Irene at the link in our bio!...
"We must have done something right, cause you guys kept coming back."
@bluepelatedinerslc, one of Salt Lake's signature spots for everyone from hungover college kids to vegan food lovers, will be closing its doors this May after more than two decades of service. It's the latest casualty in a brutal year for the restaurant industry.
Head to the link in our bio for a tribute to Blue Plate Diner. (And keep supporting your favorite local restaurants. ❤️)...
A business is never more than the sum of its people: the ones who meet you, greet you, help you make the smartest purchase decisions.
Meet the people who make Salt Lake City work:
Lindsay Breinholt, CNM / WHNP @skinspiritslc
Amy Crawley, Founder @parkwayavenuedesign
Candice Itokazu, General Manager @luciennesalon.medspa.boutique
Tobi Roberts, CEO & Co-Founder @citycreekmortgage
Dave Turja, General Manager @kengarff
Read all of these Utah Faces & Places at the link in our bio! ❤️
#sponsored...
Tony Caputo, a food evangelist and founding father of today’s SLC food community, passed away last night.
Tony started @caputosmarket in 1997, bringing his passion for the cuisine of his heritage to Utah tables. Most days during the lunch rush you’d find Tony behind the counter slicing meat and cheeses and then, after it wound down, holding court out front. He’d often rush back behind the counter and holler over his shoulder, “you have to try this!" only to return with a sample bite of veiny cheese, a paper-thin leaf of prosciutto or a perfectly crisp amaretti cookie that he’d recently added to his menagerie of taste. For his many contributions to Salt Lake City, we awarded Tony with a Lifetime Achievement Dining Award in 2007.
Today, we're sending love to @caputosmarket and the many people whose lives were touched by Tony. A full tribute is on our website now. ❤️...
Why is the Pleasant Grove theme park Evermore suing one of the most powerful women in music? Long story short: a playground for those who would choose lore over folklore is taking on Taylor Swift over the name of her most recent album. Both parties have their reputation on the line in a battle of undercover Swifties and novelty mug disputes. Will Evermore hit the gold rush? Or did they cross the wrong mad woman? The full story is at the link in our bio....
Even in the exploration boom of the 1800s, nobody dared to explore the terrain flowing through the Green and the Colorado Rivers.
That is, nobody until Major John W. Powell said the 19th Century equivalent of “Hey man, hold my beer while I try this.”
Read more about his dangerous expedition at the link in our bio!
Photo of Powell’s expedition courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division...
Whose mouth is watering? 🙋♀️😋
@granarybakehouse_slc is a small, immaculate and intimate 9th and 9th bakery with some of the best laminated pastry in town. (That means golden flakes that get all over your car because you can’t wait until you get home to take a bite.)🥖🥐🧈
Read more about Granary Bakehouse at the link in our bio! ❤️...
A brand new issue of Salt Lake magazine is coming your way!
We can't wait to share these stories with you. This issue includes our annual Blue Plate Awards celebrating those surviving and thriving in the restaurant biz. Plus, we take a road trip to Wyoming and ask why the only Utah passenger on the Titanic didn’t survive her journey.
A note from our editor Jeremy Pugh, including beautiful tributes to Mary Brown Malouf from our friends in the community, is online now. Read more at the link in our bio ❤️
Subscribers: Look for this issue in your mailbox soon. The magazine will be on newsstands March 1! 📬...
Today, we are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2021 Blue Plate Awards! 🎉
These prizes honor the growers, food evangelists, grocers, servers, bakers, chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs who do more than put good food on the table—they make our community a better place to live. This year, just surviving as a local business deserves an award, but each of our Blue Plate winners did more than that. They made us grateful for every person involved in the essential act of feeding us. 🍽
At the link in our bio, we have the full list of winners, a celebration of feats of COVID creativity and a tribute to restaurants we lost this year. If you’re hungry for more, pick up a copy on newsstands March 1! Plus, check out our Instagram for spotlights on some of the Blue Plate winners.
This year’s Blue Plate Awards are the first without our beloved Executive Editor Mary Brown Malouf. We dedicate them to her, our town’s biggest food fan, critic and champion. xoxomm 💙...
2021 Blue Plate Award winner: @ricobrandut for Staying in Beansness
Last summer, it seemed that Rico would be another victim of rapid gentrification in Salt Lake. Luckily, Rico was able to find a new home in Poplar Grove and now plans to add even more employees. It’s a last-minute happy ending for a community leader who literally wears his mission on his sleeve, courtesy a tattoo in bright red block letters: “pay it forward.” 💙...
2021 Blue Plate Award Winner: @spicekitchenincubator for Keeping the Spice Flowing
This year Spice Kitchen Incubator, already an essential resource for refugees, became, well, even more essential. 💙...
2021 Blue Plate Award winner: @thestore_utah for Special Deliveries
As grocery delivery becomes the new norm, The Store offers a personal touch that only an independent grocer can provide. Last March, high-risk and elderly customers began calling in their grocery lists over the phone, and The Store’s general managers personally delivered food to their homes. 💙...
2021 Blue Plate Award winner: @cucinaslc for Preserving Neighborhood Connection
Cucina’s outdoor spaces became a place where the neighborhood could gather safely. Owner Dean Pierose offered free coffee in the mornings and encouraged his regulars to linger and commiserate together, preserving a semblance of society during a socially distanced time. 💙...
2021 Blue Plate Award winner: @fisherbrewing for Creative Canning
This year, Fisher found ways to utilize their beer, taproom space and canning capabilities for good. They created special lines of limited edition beers in custom cans to help raise funds for local businesses struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic. 💙...