Author Archives: Jill Adler

The Park City Sundance Transformation

Jill Adler Leave a comment

It’s begun. The Park City Sundance storm nearly rivals the actual Snowmaggedon that this ski hamlet has felt for the past month and continues to experience. Park City is bracing themselves- $100 parking lots and all- for the flood of People in Black. We are a mere day away from the extravagant parties and film premieres, the branding and “activations”. Trends are made during Sundance. Two years ago Merrell Footwear sponsored a venue with Oculus Rift where VIPs and the public could test their Capra hiking boot while walking a precipice in the Dolomites.

Who knew that the next year (2016), we’d usher in an unprecedented number of virtual reality installations- most free and open to the public- to tout the future of filmmaking?

Sundance isn’t just about films. In fact, most of the movies that become Sundance darlings will make it to Netflix and Amazon within the year. For those not wanting to spend $20-25 a pop, then wait in line for 30 minutes in the cold before you’re seated in a makeshift movie theater, there is instead a themepark of filmmaking awaiting you around every corner. Some events are invite only; others are fair game-

Open to the Public

Festival HQ, Marriott Hotel- Unless you are picking up credentials or free tickets, there is NOTHING to see or do here. In fact, the volunteers will snub everyone and anyone without a credential so don’t bother.

FESTIVAL BASECAMP- Free waffles, Anyone? Last year, Saturday’s Waffle brought their trailer up and handed out the most delicious plates of sweetness you could imagine. The truck will be inside the Basecamp and between the New Frontier VR Palace and the Canada Goose Lounge where free panel discussions and music concerts are held throughout the Fest. Visitors get free wifi, charging stations, snacks and drinks from 11:00a – 4:00p., one block behind Main Street on Swede Alley. http://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival/program/FBC-guide

FESTIVAL CO-OP at 608 Main-

Visit with some of the 2017 Festival sponsors and sign up to be on a plethora of mailing lists while entering to win prizes from sponsors like American Airlines. Coppola wines will feature two unique experiences for attendees this year: Drink in the Moment, projected at Miner’s Plaza, and The Big Picture, showcased at the Festival Co-op. Grab swag like a complimentary special edition Sundance Institute–branded S’well bottles. Jan. 20–27, 10:00 a.–6 p.

FILMMAKER LODGE- Credential holders get in and the public squeezes in on a space available list. Network with filmmakers, industry leaders, and the press, in between lively panel discussions. Elks Building, 550 Main St., Jan. 20 – 28, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

ACURA LOUNGE -Get your wristband and experience Mood Roads, a one-of-a-kind, immersive VR journey. Take a spin in the Acura NSX supercar VR Simulator. Check in with your wristband at Acura stations in Festival Village and at Acura displays on Main Street for daily chances to win Acura rewards. They’ll also have live entertainment and free snacks.
Jan. 20–28, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

UTAH FILM COMMISSION HUB- A community space where you can network with local Sundance Film Festival attendees and filmmakers, grabs snacks, coffee and charge up. Collect a limited edition Utah Film Commission pin and take advantage of the free wifi. This year, Utah respresents with four features: Brigsby Bear, Deidra & Laney Rob a Train, Snatchers, and Wind River.Jan. 20-26, 10-2p film.utah.gov/2017sff

JAUNT VR LOUNGE at 580 Main St.- Experience the next frontier of storytelling at this weeklong VR lounge. See more than 20 immersive VR experiences and learn more about VR filmmaking, from production to distribution. Thru Wed Jan. 25, 10:30a-5 p.

OCULUS HOUSE at 201 Heber Ave- The Oculus team from Facebook will showcase the latest VR films and share projects from the VR for Good program and offer demos of Oculus Rift and Touch, the Samsung Gear VR, and other events throughout the week. oculusatsundance.com.

UPLOAD VR LOUNGE at 306 Main- Upload will be hosting a delicious complimentary brunch prepared by Chef John Murcko 11a, Sunday Jan. 22. After the eats, they’ll host a series of panels and fireside chats, and VR demos. They continue into the night with the Upload Mixer from 9 p – 12 a.

THE NORTH FACE STORE- Drop in on Thursday Jan. 26 4p for a private screening of Meru and a chat with Utah director and athlete Renan Ozturk.

And a little tougher entrance-

WINTER WELLNESS COLLECTIVE LOUNGE- Healthy food, yoga and fitness classes, sound healing, meditation and even beauty touch-ups. The Wellness Collective Lounge is a pop-up at 136 Heber Ave, #304 to help you find your chill amid the chaos. There will also be evening panel discussions and events.

ZEN DEN WELLNESS SUITE – More escapism in the Gateway Center where celebrities and other Park City Sundance Festival attendees enjoy a peaceful respite. Presented by the Los Angeles-based non-profit Heal One World, an organization which provides free wellness to underserved communities, the Zen Den will host conscious happy hour events, evening parties, daytime classes in Yo-chi (Yoga with Tai Chi) and chocolate meditation. A Peaceful Women’s gathering with meditation is planned for Saturday afternoon.

ECOLUXE LOUNGE – A true survivor in the luxury category for Park City and Sundance. The all eco-friendly attitude and unique brands presented at the Blue Iguana space at the top of Main make this one of my favorite stops. Floral designer Betsy Borden, Dancing Daisies Floral, Betsy Borden, Dancing Daisies Floral has created an organic, living eco – mountain forest. Snake Creek Grill Snake Creek Grille Chef Dean Hottle will serve up tasty eats. CMFR Canada will be putting celebs in their extreme winter, high fashion coats while Barefoot ECO Outfitters will gift vintage-inspired, eco-friendly mountain apparel. There’s also a wellness spa from Utah’s WHOLE HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP and Titos Vodka if that doesn’t help.

LUXURY LOUNGE at the St Regis Deer Valley- Hands down the Rand agency through the best party at the Fest last year. Super low key but the invitation only soiree drew executive producers, directors, actors, editors, film investors, distributors, and exclusively invited VIP guests for hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and brand gifting.

SPG AMEX & LA TIMES HQ LOUNGE at 314 Main- American Express & Starwood Preferred Guest members can pop in thru Jan. 24, 9 a.-5p. for coffee, cocoa and things to “spike” them up. The NoMad Happy Hour from 3-5p will add food to your plate along with beer and wine.

THE HUB and SNOWFEST at Park City Live- It starts with The Hub- a one-stop shop for filmmakers and key influencers to promote their projects. There’s a 4K Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TV showcase with televisions from LG, Samsung and Sony, presented by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Marie Claire and Who What Wear will be onsite to talk women in film, fashion trends and in the What’s Trending Studio and musical.ly, celebrities will be chatting about their films and upcoming projects. Proceeds from the live stream will be donated to Operation Smile. There will be food from The Mellow Mushroom, a Tanqueray Gin & Juice Bar and Splenda coffee bar. Jan. 20-23, 11-5p.

At night, the place gets rocking with SNOWFEST- showcasing some of the world’s most relevant and famous live musical acts, celebrity hosts and world-renown DJs with Hollywood’s elite in attendance. Electro group, Major Lazer, tonight, followed by Tiesto on Sat. Enigmatic masked DJ and producer, Marshmello will rock the house Sunday. On Monday, January 23rd, “Back In The Day”, celebrates the golden age of hip hop with Doug E. Fresh and on Tuesday night, Michael Franti & Spearhead will take to the stage. RL Grime, Busta Rhymes, ZEDD, Lophiile German will close out the final Fest weekend. Tickets are available for purchase at www.Parkcitylive.net.

Restaurant Review: Eating Establishment Snubs Its Roots

Jill Adler 2 comments

The Eating Establishment in Park City, a popular locals’ spot for breakfast and brunch, has now joined the cadre of pretentious Main Street restaurants.

Bought by The Edison Alley Group and “Modern Family” star and Bar X and Beer Bar owner Ty Burrell last spring, the Double EE, as it was affectionately called, underwent a remodel, a significantly streamlined menu, and a fancy cocktail bar with a liquor license allowing for drinks starting at 10 a.m. (BTW, this is the only place in town with a license to sip before lunch. Woohoo, right?). And since all of these “improvements” don’t pay for themselves, what you get is a $45 breakfast for two.

The service itself is spotty. Our waiter barely spoke English so it took three trips to the kitchen to get the right order and ‘over-hard’ eggs that didn’t ooze everywhere. The potatoes were lukewarm and soggy, the coffee bitter and the rest just ok. But don’t worry, even though the portions are small, they’re still filling thanks to all of the extra grease and butter they swim in.

The Eating Establishment has whittled its generous breakfast menu and retooled the dinner one. The atrium space now has a floor-to-ceiling bar with the most boring wood face you’ll find in Park City. If you’re looking for that western atmosphere and a delicious cocktail, however, you’re better off spending the same money at High West Distillery. Note- High West doesn’t serve breakfast.

The EE continues to draw a busy breakfast scene and the faux mountain décor (it was actually real before the new owners got ahold of it) will please tourists walking Main Street in search of that “Old Town” vibe. But locals, once again, have been pushed out as this incarnation sets its sights on becoming Park City’s new destination for expert craft cocktails and coffee. “We want to be the place to get a drink on Main Street,” said an EE rep.

So with No Worries closed and the EE transfigured, where can a local (or someone who wants to eat like one) get a decent all-American breakfast without choking on the check?

Main Street Deli

Good Karma

Wasatch Bread and Bagel

Yep, only three right now. Will the owner of the Original Pancake House please step forward!?

Dining

Women’s March Planned For Park City

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Put on your walking boots because Comedienne Chelsea Handler is marching the sisters of Sundance (and everyone else who wants to join in) down Park City’s Main Street Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. But this women’s march is no joke.

The Women’s March On Main is part of a human rights demonstration set to take place in 50 states and 20 countries around the world. And what better Utah locale to stage it than the 3^rd Annual Sundance Film Festival?

“Sundance has always been a platform for change: not only for filmmakers and filmmaking, but also for big ideas for the future,” Handler says. “We need to be louder and stronger than ever about what we believe in.”

Trouble Brews in Park City

This isn’t the first time that filmmakers have used Park City’s film fest as a way to podium liberal causes. Just to name a few, there have been Occupy Wall Street and Iraq war protests as well as animal-rights groups chanting from the sidewalks during Sundance.

The “Women’s March on Main” kicks off at 9 a.m. on the opening Saturday of the Fest. This happens to coincide with a similar march in Washington, D.C.; all the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration and what will be the busiest day of the Festival; a time when the majority of the celebs and media attend. Can you say chaos?

Organizers have created a Facebook page to ask supporters to come out and demonstrate their respect for freedom, human rights, diversity, safety and health in this country.

“We have an opportunity in the creative communities to spread hope, tolerance and inclusiveness in our art and with our voices,” says the page. The March starts at the Wasatch Brew Pub parking lot, 220 Main St. Park City, UT. 9 a.m. and culminates with a rally at the bottom (1 a.m.?). The WMM Facebook page says more than 1000 people plan to attend the March. Another 2000 are interested in going. Expect those numbers to climb exponentially in the next week.

Snowblades Only Win In Film

Jill Adler Leave a comment

It’s hilarious that folks choose to ski on snowblades beyond the 90s. When I taught teens at Deer Valley Resort we spent at least a day per week gliding all over the mountain and pissing off older guests.

Those little skis have been an effective training tool for balance and edging but there should come a time when you hop back on real skis.

Photo courtesy Rose Davies

Just Say No To Snowblades

When snowblades become your sticks of choice, go ahead and have fun, but please don’t call yourself an expert… unless you rock them like Mario Balzano.

Peruvian Lodge Bar Video Challenge

Local pro athlete Leo Ahrens directed this short for Alta’s annual Peruvian Lodge Bar video challenge. He took home the honors in 2015 and won it again in 2016 with this spoof of “blading”. The irony is that Mario is truly all about his blades. And really, only he can get away with it.

Family Friendly

7 Best Dressed Winter Feet Finds

Jill Adler 5 comments

Styling winter feet used to be easy. If you asked any real skier (not bunnies who sit at the Montage sipping hot toddies) what they wore for kicks they’d answer ski boots and Sorels. Ah, the good old days. Now there are so many cute, cool choices you might wind up with the winter version of Imelda Marco’s shoe closet.

Those who live in resorts like Park City know what I’m talking about. It’s cold, icy and snowy a solid six months out of the year; and it’s boring looking down at the same winter feet every day (and night). If you even thought about getting fancy for dinner or Sundance good luck not slipping on your a** in front of international paparazzi- or at least your friend’s Snapchat. So you need a fancy winter shoe? There are such things, you know.

Athleisure fans rejoice! You now have some of the most fun and functional silhouettes for winter feet since the Ugg rage thankfully waned. Flirty, fleece-rimmed ankle boots pair with your favorite skinny jeans, calf-high zips compliment your new sweater dress or pencil skirt and, well, those Tecnica Moon Boots go with nothing and therefore go with everything.

If you are in need of inspiration check out these great fashion finds for winter feet:

The Oboz Madison Insulated Boots are everything you could want for winter. Rugged outsoles for traction and friction, a nubuck leather upper for shedding snow and rain, 200g of Thinsulate for winter warmth, a pile cuff for comfort, hidden side zipper for easy entry, an insulated footbed for extra warm feet and they are adorable. $165.

Tecnica MoonBoot W.E. Monaco Lows give you the style of those oh-so popular slipons but with the traction and dryness you need for navigating snow and slush. They may look bulky but they’re lightweight, flexible and uber warm. Plus, the Lunar faux fur has waterproofing to keep it from looking like you have a wet rat around your calf half-way through the season. $160.

Wolverine Sirrus Zip Oxford. This hard-to-find shoe is a must for any local. It’s the winter equivalent to wearing flipflops all summer. Suede leather waterproof upper, warm, fuzzy, faux-fur lining, removable full-cushion footbed, arch support and deep, deep lug soles. $89.

You see these Ahnu Sugarpines and instantly have to have them. Not only does it come in fun, unique colors you won’t find in any other mid-hiker, but they are super warm and waterproof. The Sugarpines have Ahnu’s neutral foot position for better balance and stride, a double-reinforced toe to keep out water and cold, and a padded tongue for extra cush. This may not be your snowshoe-shoe but it’ll be your fave go-to for casual winter dinners and dog-walks. $89

When you are into winter trail running, there’s the Altra Lone Peak 2.0 Polartec Neoshell. Zero drop, waterproof and roomy. The neoshell upper provides a weather-resistant barrier while the sandwiched StoneGuard midsole gives flexible protection as you traipse over rocks and ice chunks. The design is made to feel like an extension of your foot rather than you trying to make your foot fit the shoe. If you have a wide foot and struggle with a comfortable trail shoe you need to explore this brand. $65.

Timberland Authentic Winter Fold Downs. In case you haven’t kept up on the trends, fold downs are all the rage. Not only do you get a cute fuzzy shoe but a chukka too. The durable uppers are made with full-grain, waterproof leather and suede, and, unlike other winter fashion boots, these folddowns have a waterproof membrane and teddy fleece lining for extra oomph. EVA midsole and aggressive lugs provide all-day comfort even when the streets get slick. $98

Every outdoorswoman needs the Lowa Sparrow WS Climbing Shoe on hand. When you can’t ski for whatever reason the most fun “adventure” workout you can have is in the climbing gym. These beauties offer all-day comfort which is key if you’ve been in ski boots for five days straight. The women’s last keeps your heel in place but gives extra wiggle room in the toe box. It’s really more about having a shoe that doesn’t make you scream in pain without sacrificing performance; especially in the winter. BTW, these do awesomely on those intermediate (and beginner) sport routes. $140.

Softgoods

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