This Week Downtown
GET A HOTEL ROOM!!!
YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS A MINUTE ON MAIN AND DOWNTOWN THIS WEEKEND
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at 7:30 at Gallivan Center with a free concert by El Grupo Natural. You’ll sway, swoon, and salsa to ranchera, pop, and a little mariachi from this talented and energetic band!
Open Streets returns for a fall edition this Friday! Main Street will turn into an urban playground every Friday and Saturday from noon ‘til 2am! Each weekend brings delightful surprises, like free yoga, pop-up parks, silent disco, urban golf, and lots of free concerts! Check out the full list of fun!
Utah Symphony opens its season with Dvořák’s New World Symphony. Neil Armstrong loved this piece so much he played a recording of it on the moon! The work is paired with two of our favorites: Ravel’s Bolero and Barber’s Violin Concerto. (Friday and Saturday, $17).
NEON RODEO returns! A one-of-a-kind showcase of electrifying music, art, and creativity at the crossroads of the West. Giddyup! (Friday through Saturday)
The confetti cannon of fun explodes at Open Streets with SLAM Block Party 5-8pm. Come see Lionfish and the Salt Lake Academy of Music play a free concert at Main Street and Gallivan Center!
Ciao Bella! Once we had the best gnocchi of our life at Festa Italiana, and we’re determined to find that vendor again this weekend at The Gateway. Utah’s Italian community brings Italian beer and wine, live bands, sports cars, street performers, and yes, delicious food trucks to The Gateway, Saturday and Sunday, 12-7 FREE.
Come for the food, stay for the music at Gallivan’s Rock ‘N’ Ribs! Black Smoke Gypsy, The American Hitmen, and Andrew Boss headline the musical acts. Around the plaza there will be face painting, bounce houses, a merchant marketplace, and plates of ribs starting at just $3!
UNITY Block Party is an inclusive, art-centric event with headliner and social media phenomenon, INKIO. The event will raise money to establish an innovation hub for creative professionals in Salt Lake City. Get your ticket online and then head to Library Square 2-11pm to hear a line-up of 12 artists, $55.
See you at the Market!
Eight ways to keep it cool in downtown SLC
Nine. That’s the number of days temps reached or exceeded 100 degrees last month in Salt Lake City. And we’re not done yet. If history is any indication, we’ll likely get another 10 days of hot weather before summer 2023 is in the rearview. But have no fear. Following is a compilation of fun and festive ways to stay cool while embracing summer’s sweet second half.
Sip an icy cocktail
The margarita, Aperol spritz, sangria, pina colada or a paloma are all popular steamy-day sippers. But why not try a seasonal cocktail custom-made by a local mixologist? Something like Alibi Bar & Place's Trail of Joy, a refreshing combination of pisco, sake, rinquinquin (peach liqueur), lemon, and honey. Alibi Bar & Place, open daily, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Open your mind in air-conditioned comfort at UMOCA
SLC’s de facto center for contemporary expression just opened three fantastic new exhibitions: A Greater Utah, a sweeping and powerfully thought-provoking display of nearly 30 Utah artists’ work selected by six guest curators, each hailing from a different region of the state; Left Time, a video piece by Steven Stallings-Cardenas examining the often stifling limitations of the modern workplace; and Ben Sang’s Gut Set, a collection of place-specific items that Sang describes as “artifacts of an embodied experience of living in Utah.” UMOCA, 20 S. West Temple, open Wednesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., $10 suggested donation
Indulge in summer’s favorite dessert
This is what we’re daydreaming of during summer’s dog days: a cup of soft serve topped with acute and crunchy fish-shaped waffle cookie from Doki Doki Japanese Dessert Café, 249 E. 400 South, Monday to Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; a scoop of vegan tea & biscuits, lavender, rocky road, or banana brownie ice cream (we promise you won’t miss the dairy!) from Monkeywrench, open Monday – Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, noon to 11p.m.; a homemade cinnamon waffle cone stuffed with white chocolate cashew ice cream from Rockwell Ice Cream, 115A Regent St, Monday – Thursday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. 11 p.m.; or a generous scoop of Nutella gelato from Capo Gelateria Italiana, 260 S. 200 West, open Monday – Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Get your science on at Clark Planetarium
Admission to the well-done exhibits there is always free of charge, of course. You can also buy a ticket to catch a film in the planetarium’s IMAX 3D theatre or Hansen Dome Theatre. But for something really special, grab tickets to one of the planetarium’s monthly Night Vision shows, alive show when educators or guest speakers unleash the Dome Theatre's suite of advanced modeling and multimedia tools to explore a range of astronomical topics. This month’s Night Vision shows, on August 11 and 12th, will explore Comets and Meteor Showers.
Catch a cool breeze from a rooftop bar
Even on SLC’s hottest days, cool air from the Wasatch Mountain Range wafts down from higher altitudes to cool off the valley floor once the sun goes down. Position yourself to take advantage of this natural phenomena by taking a sundown seat at one of downtown’s cool rooftop bars: Gracie’s, 326 S. West Temple, Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Van Ryder, atop the Le Meridian Hotel, 131 S. 300 West, Tuesday –Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight, Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m.; or Green Pig Pub, 31 E. 400 South, 11 a.m.to 2 a.m., daily.
Splash around in The Gateway’s Olympic fountain.
We dare you to resist walking through the cool, dancing spray of water making up this snowflake-shaped fountain at The Gateway outdoor mall. This family-friendly plaza where the fountain is located is furnished with tables with umbrellas and turf inviting hanging out and staying awhile. 15 Rio Grande St, open Thursday through Sunday until 9 p.m., fountain closes at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesdays for Goat Yoga and Sunset Yoga, respectively.
Take a spin on a GREENbike
Nothing invokes a sense of summery freedom more succinctly than pedaling a bike while the wind whips through your hair. GREENbike, Salt Lake City’s bike share, allows you to pedal traditional two-wheelers or pedal-assited e-bikes for next to nothing—your ticket to ride a GREENbike starts at just $3 for 60 minutes. More than a dozen stations dot the downtown core. Download the share’s handy app to find out what’s available at each station in real time.
Catch a ride downtown on TRAX
Instead of getting in your oven-like car after a long and leisurely morning at the Downtown Farmer’s Market or an evening of cutting a rug at the Gallivan Center’s Big Band Dance Night, consider catching a ride home in cool comfort on UTA’s TRAX, S-Line or Frontrunner. Around trip fare for an adult is just $5. What’s more, by doing so you can feel good in knowing you helped keep Salt Lake’s air just a little cleaner.
Visit—and celebrate—the Main Library
One of the ways the Salt Lake City Library System is celebrating its 125th birthday this year is by offering free tours of its gorgeous and architecturally significant Main Library (210 E. 400South), designed by the internationally renowned architect Moshe Safdie. These 45-minute,free tours are held on the first Wednesday of the month and begin from the A-frame sign in the library’s Urban Room (main atrium) at noon. Pre-registration is not required.
NEW VENDORS AT DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET!
While more than 40 farmers markets dot Utah from north to south, few compare in size, variety and festivity to Urban Food Connections of Utah’s Downtown Farmers Market, held weekly in Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Park. Following two seasons of pandemic-dictated capacity limitations, this summer market’s inimitable communal vibe is back in force, fueled by the almost 200 local vendors who display there every Saturday.
Over its 31 years—and particularly through the last two difficult years—one of the ways Downtown Farmers Market organizers have kept this beloved event thriving is by constantly seeking out new vendors. This year is no exception. Following is a brief introduction to two new faces to the market, along with a familiar one offering a new twist on a multigenerational staple.
Tucked within the suburban sea of homes in Draper is Fine Tilth Farm, owned and nurtured by Joaquim Hailer. Though most of his neighbors’ backyards are inhabited by grass, shrubs and the occasional pool or tennis court, Hailer uses his to grow food, consisting mostly of greens and roots vegetables. He began urban farming as hobby, but when his crops outpaced what he could eat and give away, Hailer opened his popular neighborhood farmstand. That effort quickly expanded to the Sunday Market at Wheeler Historic Farm. This year, Hailer decided to add the Downtown Farmers Market to his outlets, where his picture-perfect, produce—artfully displayed in in baskets and bins labeled with crisp black and white signs within the Fine Tilth booth on the north side of Pioneer Park—have been a huge hit. “We’ve been really busy this summer,” Hailer says. “I really like having a full display and so, for the time being, I’m focusing on [the Downtown Farmers Market] and the one at Wheeler Farm, at least until more of my crop comes in later in the summer.”
Prior to launching Arete Gelato at the Downtown Farmers Market earlier this summer, Braun Myers worked as an intake specialist at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (formerly UNI). There he witnessed firsthand how integral food is to mental health recovery. “That time was a real inspiration in bringing my gelato to the public,” Myers says. “Eating ice cream holds nostalgically positive feelings for just about everyone.”
Whether or not food can cure the blues is up for debate, this is certainly true: Myer’s lusciously creamy gelato is what I imagine nirvana tastes like. Part of that is likely the high-quality, locally sourced ingredients he uses to churn up each batch: Rosehill Dairy cream, Cox Honey, Black Rifle Coffee, Sicilian pistachios and Ritual Chocolate. But what really brings Arete Gelato home is Myers’ über-creative flavor combinations. “I really like coming up with combinations people have never had before,” he says.
Myers ensures that his deliciously traditional classics—honeycomb, pistachio and chocolate—are always on hand for each Saturday market (as well as the Thursday evening market at Liberty Park). The rest of the custom-made portable freezer he fills with unexpected—and irresistible—flavors like rosemary ricotta with a blackberry reduction swirl, pineapple passion fruit with chili oil, raspberry rose herbal tea sorbetto, brie honey fig, peanut butter and strawberry jam and maple with a caramel soy sauce swirl.
If the Downtown Farmers Market were to have so-called anchors, Pyne Farms would certainly be one of them. The Pyne family has grown tree-ripened apples in the Payson area for more than 40 years, and is a stalwart vendor at the market, occupying two booth spaces at the northeast corner of Pioneer Park. There, the Pyne family offers a changing menu of various apple varieties throughout the growing season, including Braeburn, Elliott, Gala, Rome, Jonathan, Golden and Red Delicious, Granny Smith and Honeycrisp. The Pynes also grow and sell tart cherries, concord grapes, pears, peaches, nectarines and apricots. (Check out Pyne Farm’s Instagram page for latest on what they’ll be stocking at the market each Saturday.)
A few years ago, the Pynes decided to expand their presence at the market to the interior of the park—the area reserved for prepared food vendors—to offer apple slushies, a refreshing frozen drink made with no added sugar or even ice. And then this year, since no one can subsist on cold drinks alone, the family introduced homemade apple cider donuts, which are, in a word, dee-lish! Each of these apple-infused, fried-to-perfection gems have a slightly crunch cinnamon-sugared crust encasing a beautifully pillowy cake center. “Donuts are a big thing at orchards in the east and I thought the market would be a great place to try them out,” says Kent Pyne.
The Downtown Farmers Market is held in Salt Lake City every Saturday, rain or shine, at Pioneer Park (350 W. 300 South), 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., through October 22. Urban Food Connections is also hosting a NEW weekly farmers market on the east side of Liberty Park every Thursday, 4 p.m. to dusk. Visit the market’s Facebook page to find out what’s fresh and other details.
COMING SOON: ROOFTOP BARS
ON THE STREET
The other day Pago on Main had a ½ hour wait for lunch. Sad face, right? But in this case, we’re happy for them–having a busy lunch service downtown means people are returning to their offices–and that is great news for the urban core’s retail and F&B outlets.
As the kids say, “this is going to be Gucci…”
West Quarter is the massive development on the block of Royal Wood Office Plaza (btw, even when new, there was nothing royal about it). Construction is happening in phases, but eventually there will be residential, retail, restaurants, and in October, the first tower to open will be Le Méridien. Kitty-corner from Vivint Arena, this upscale, design-focused international hotel brand will bring 144 guestrooms and Adelaide Restaurant and Bar, a farm-to-table concept. Our eyes lit up like Christmas morning when–near the end of the press release–these two magical words appeared: rooftop bar.
Our hearts just grew three sizes! Now you have our full attention.
Rooftop bars are sexy, they cultivate cool vibes. Do you know how often conventioneers ask where they can find a rooftop bar?! Oh… wait, press release, what now? You buried the lede? Now there are not one, but two rooftop bars at West Quarter!!! Another lounge will be perched atop Element, a longer-stay hotel brand from Westin.
Journey with us, drink in hand (Grey Goose up a little dirty, three blue-cheese stuffed olives) as we watch the sun dip below the Great Salt Lake from the outdoor garden on the 13th floor. Email us if you’d like to be invited, we’ve already set a Google calendar alert.
Speaking of ascending, Pulp on Gallivan Avenue has permanently closed. Wait, no, they are launching a new concept, Ascent Kitchen. It isn’t all about us, but this is a two minute walk from our office, so we’re happy this lively little space with great service will return. We spy an expanded menu with very yummy-looking Orange Kitchen, Thai Peanut Chicken Salad, and more.
Oh Village Baker, how we miss your Meatball Sandwich. The space in the handsome 111 Building will soon be the new home of ALPHA Coffee. Sounds macho. Can’t wait.
Next door, City Creek Center has set a date for The Capital Grille of March 25th to open this emporium of steak! Owned by Darden Restaurants, we hope this opens the door for more of their platforms to our market, including Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, and Yard House.
Eva’s Bakery has expanded into McKay Diamond & Jewelry. (Don't worry McKay, moved .01 miles to Regent Street. Even better: Eva’s plans to keep and refurbish the iconic neon sign).The new space will serve the grab-and-go crowd with faster coffee service, and rumor has it that ice cream is on its way!
Have you been to the Winter Market at The Gateway? From 10-2 every Saturday, this bustling community experience is a healthy, wholesome way to start your weekend. Aziza, owned by Menna Rashwan, is new to the market and her Egyptian desserts, including kunafa cups and baklava are insanely good… we almost don’t want to let this secret out of the bag. For real.
We can be frank about this: we welcome the triumphant return of J.Dawgs to downtown! Get your buns moving to their new location in City Creek, facing Temple Square in the Kirton McConkie building. This is a real weiner! On these chili days, we relish their reemergence downtown. We’re going to ketchup with them soon and often!
2020 Economic Benchmark Report Released
The 2020 State of Downtown report offers insights into key industry sectors: commercial real estate, retail, residential, nightlife, arts and culture. The report was researched and compiled by the Downtown Alliance and CBRE. This report is an excellent resource for developers, planners and policymakers to help guide decisions about investing in our central business district.
Click here to view the full report
Downtown SLC Deals & Discounts - Explore Shop in Utah Offers
Support some of your favorite downtown SLC businesses while saving some dough thanks to the Shop in Utah Grant Program! Shop in Utah offers support for local businesses such as restaurants, bars, retailers, cultural performance groups, fitness studios and hotels while providing discounts to their customers. Pick up some take-out, book a staycation and even get free money at vendors like the Downtown SLC Farmers Market. Check out the full list of participating downtown businesses below and learn more about Shop in Utah here.
Downtown SLC Shop in Utah Offers:
AC Hotel, Salt Lake City - 50% off online prices
Array Salon - Buy a hair color service and get one free
Ballet West - 40% off tickets to Nine Sinatra Songs to the general public starting 10/13. Beginning10/9 we will exclusively offer subscribers and donors 50% off tickets to Nine Sinatra Songs.
bastille - 50% off a huge selection of inventory
Blue Iguana - Contact the business for more information
BTG Wine Bar - Contact the business for more information
Caffe Molise - Buy One Get One Free every day for lunch items
Dexterity Salon - Various service promotions and product giveaways
Downtown Alliance - Get $10 extra when you buy $50, Get $25 extra when you buy $75
Downtown Farmers Market in Pioneer Park – Urban Food Connections of Utah - $10 in Market Cash to be used at ANY market vendor
Eva - Free dessert with 2-person meal nightly
Eva’s Bakery - BOGO - promo code: SHOPINUTAH to any online orders to receive a discount
Hampton Inn Salt Lake City Downtown - 15% discount for Utah residents
Hilton Salt Lake City Center - pay for a $150 room night and you receive a $100 City Creek gift card and a $50 Spencer’s credit
Hotel Monaco - Buy one get one free package; credit for dining
LatterDayBride - 50% off all prom dresses including our sale prom
Mr. Shabu at Gateway - Make a day in advance reservation for 20% off an entire meal for parties of 4 or more
Odyssey Dance Theatre - Thriller (Capitol) & Shut Up and Dance (Kingsbury): $35 seats discounted to $17.50
Peak 45 LLC - 50% discount on all class packs and private and semi-private lesson; 30% discount on all retail
Poplar Street Pub - 15% discount any food item; $5 Monday wings special (dine-in only)
Post Office Place - SOLD OUT
Repertory Dance Theatre - 50% off performance tickets; 50% off Dance Center on Broadway drop-in classes and punch cards; 50% off digital concerts; 50% off Winter Dance enrollments made before Dec. 30, 2020
Salt Lake Power Yoga LLC - 50% discount on all class packs for both in-studio and live stream; 30% discount on all retail both in-studio and online
Smith Bespoke - 50% off $1000 suit for first time customers
Soundwell - Contact the business for more information
Sweet Rolled Tacos - Contact the business for more information
Takashi - SOLD OUT
Taqueria 27 - Buy 1 gift card online or in-store and receive a second card free at 50% of the purchased value
Toasters - for every total dollar amount spent, get a 50% gift card of that amount
Tucanos - Contact the business for more information
Utah Arts Alliance - Up to $25,000 in discounted tickets and local art
UWM Men’s Shop, Utah Woolen Mills - Contact the business for more information
Visit Salt Lake - 50% off all Connect Passes & Salt Lake Brewery Passes
Vosen’s Bread Paradise - 10% off
Whiskey Street Cocktails and Dining - 50% Off Gift Cards
White Horse Spirits and Kitchen - 50% Off Gift Cards
Zest Kitchen & Bar - Gift card discounts; Buy $25, get $5; Buy $75, get $25, etc
Know of a Downtown SLC business that should be on this list? Let us know by e-mailing
Downtown Farmers Market Celebrates 28th Season in Pioneer Park
The Downtown Farmers Market kicked off its 28th season in Pioneer Park on June 8. Once again, farmers, food purveyors artists and crafters line the park with local wares and tens of thousands of patrons from near and far shop, eat and enjoy the best Utah has to offer. 
Pioneer Park has undergone a significant transformation, with the removal of the restroom building in the center of the park to make way for the installation of a multi-use grass field ringed by trees, a pathway and new lighting. These changes will help to activate the park with new and different activities and invite local residents to toss a frisbee, kick around a soccer ball or just take a stroll in this friendly green space downtown. It will also increase the safety and security in the park with clear sightlines and added visibility throughout the park. Combined with the efforts of Operation Rio Grande, a multi-agency effort to improve public safety in the neighborhood, the changes in the park will see reduced crime and drug-related activity in the area, assisting those in need of services for homelessness or health issues.
Salt Lake City Parks and Recreation leaders worked closely with the Downtown Farmers Market team to make sure these changes accommodated and even enhanced the market experience. 
The market experience, such that it is, does not feel dramatically different for patrons, with the exception of the newly configured “Food Fairway,” the ultimate place to grab a coffee or lemonade and try food from around the world. From Pad Thai to Sudanese lentils to authentic Sicilian pizza, hungry market-goers can explore delicious cuisine while people-watching at the picnic tables.
The Market operates under a vigorous “Waste Wise” mission, with the end goal of putting as little waste as possible in the landfill. Single-use plastic bags are not allowed, so folks are encouraged to bring their reusable bags (or pick one up for $1 at the Market Info booth if you forget). People are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and fill up for free at one of our many water stations throughout the park and to walk, bike or take public transit to the market. Load up!
There are multiple Waste Wise stations throughout the park, where you can recycle your plastic, paper and glass. This year we’ll be collecting organic waste (such as fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, fats, liquids, raw food, prepared food, etc.) which will be delivered to the new Wasatch Resource Recovery anaerobic digester. Waste in the digester is heated to aid the growth of microbes which break down the organic matter, without the use of oxygen, resulting in biogas production. The gas is then captured and purified before it is converted into biomethane (renewable natural gas) and fed into the nearby gas pipeline and sold into the market as renewable “green” power. 
Of course, the Downtown Farmers Market is really all about the food - the freshest and most diverse selection of locally grown produce in the state, sourced from a roughly 250-mile radius. Farmers run the gamut, from large legacy farms to start-up urban farms, offering everything from Bear Lake raspberries to Santaquin cherries to mizuna greens grown in Millcreek. Many growers specialize in unique varieties of heirloom tomatoes, greens, peppers, houseplants, cut flowers and herbs. While you’ll find your favorite vendors returning every year, there are always a handful of new vendors just getting their start, making the Downtown Farmers Market ground zero for discovering new foods and products that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re in the market for locally brewed kombucha or grass-fed beef, you’ll find it all, every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City!