Living, Playing & Writing in the Outdoors
Sage begged to play hooky from school when the 2016 Outdoor Retailer Show rolled around. It’s her chance to see what’s coming for kids but I really suspect it’s all about the shoes…KEEN on particular.
The Portland brand known for making sandals into shoes has been one of the fastest growing footwear companies since its inception in 2003. They are funky, functional, and highly unique. They are also Sage’ go-to shoes.
I gotta get up to Whistler. Winter, spring, summer. The behemoth resort just doesn’t quit impressing folks with their sense of progress, growth and out-the-charts party scene. In the spirit of everreaching resort endowments, Whistler Blackcomb will drop a cool $8 mill on winter and summer projects around the mountains.
“These projects demonstrate our commitment to ensuring our guests have the best possible experiences when they come to our mountains,” says Dave Brownlie, President and CEO of Whistler Blackcomb. “Reinvesting in our operations and continuing to provide new offerings to guests year after year is something we are very proud of.”
This year’s mess of projects are aimed directly at newcomers to the British Columbia area. Summertime guests should be on the lookout for work on the Harmony Lake, Peak Express Traverse, and Whistler Summit Interpretive Walk hiking trails on Whistler Mountain, and the Alpine Walk hiking trail on Blackcomb Mountain. Operators will resurface and widen each of the trails to improve their usability and access. The Samsung Alpine Theatre in the Roundhouse Lodge which shows historical films about Whistler’s past gets moved to the lower level of the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb and will expand.
For next winter, the ski and snowboard learning terrain in the Olympic Station area on Whistler Mountain will get even more beginner-friendly terrain, and the Olympic and Fantastic runs will be regraded to make them more accessible to novice skiers and riders. Whistler Blackcomb will be installing two new, covered, magic carpet lifts at Olympic Station and 25 new, energy efficient snow guns. Plans also include re-grading the Upper Whiskey Jack run above the Chic Pea Hut to make it less steep; something beginners should be psyched about.
The Roundhouse Lodge gets an added 6,000 square feet in the form of a new upper and lower deck and a new “umbrella bar” with a collapsible roof that can open and close like an umbrella depending on the weather. These upgrades give guests an extra 160 new outdoor seats. Oh, and the umbrella bar is heated so it can be open year round.
The GLC (Garibaldi Lift Company) will renovate the section of the patio overlooking Skier’s Plaza- a new roof, heaters and fire pits, 90 outdoor covered seats- making Whistler’s signature slope-side après spot even more hopping.
What can I say? Whistler is just one of those places that keeps upping their game. You have to put it on your travel bucket list whether you relish a summer mountain visit or crushing it on winter slopes.
It was opening day of the Sundance Film Festival 2016 and I didn’t feel like driving into town. So I logged onto Sundance.org/festival and clicked the YouTube icon. There was Robert Redford with John Cooper welcoming everyone to the Fest at the Day One Press Conference. Although I was driving around Salt Lake City running errands, tuning in through Bluetooth, I felt like I was there. I rarely get to the conference in the first place and now I didn’t feel guilty about it. I got to hear all about the 12,000 films submitted for the less than 200 spots at Sundance and more. (I read a statistic somewhere that said your short film has a .74 chance of getting into Sundance.)
Now, more than ever before you can enjoy Park City’s Sundance Film Festival without fighting the crowds, the parking, the shoving, the lines and the cold. You can pick what you want to see and hear (minus the actual movies- this is just for panel talks) and watch or listen from your cushy couch, office desk or driver’s seat. No more having to feel less than one of the privileged few invited to attend as filmmaker, journalist, actor, or studio exec. All you need is high-speed internet.
LIVE@SUNDANCE
Tune in for daily live content from the Sundance Film Festival, including intimate conversations at Cinema Café, two heavy-hitting Power of Story panels, and plenty of other key Festival events. All Live@Sundance events will be streamed on Sundance.org/festival and the official YouTube page.
Monday, January 25
11:30 AM MST
Cinema Café with Werner Herzog and Joshua Oppenheimer
2:30 PM MST
Power of Story: Evolution of Storytelling
Tuesday, January 26, 11:30 AM MST
Cinema Café with Rebecca Hall and Michael Shannon
Wednesday, January 27, 11:30 AM MST
Cinema Café (Guests TBA)
Thursday, January 28, 11:30 AM MST
Cinema Café
Power of Story: The Art of Film (feat. Christopher Nolan and Colin Trevorrow, moderated by Alex Ross Perry)
Friday, January 29, 11:30 AM MST
Cinema Café with D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus
Saturday, January 30, 11:30 AM MST
Cinema Café with Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson
Saturday, January 30
Awards Ceremony
You can also Google “Sundance Live Stream” to find various online magazines posting their live streams. Deadline Hollywood has a couple posted already.
Other ways to see what’s happening in Park City January 24-31, 2016:
FOLLOW #SUNDANCE
TWITTER
@SundanceFest – The official handle of the Sundance Film Festival. Follow for live updates, talent takeovers, and more. Each day of the festival, a different filmmaker takes over @SundanceFest to share the experience through their eyes. Follow along and ask them questions.
January 25: Nate Parker, director The Birth of a Nation
January 26: Dawn Porter, director Trapped
January 27: Gingger Shankar, co-director/performer Nari
January 28: Louis Black, co-director Richard Linklater – dream is destiny
@SundanceFestNow – Our account for Sundance Maniacs: indie film fanatics who want 24/7 breaking news at the Festival.
@SundanceLabs – Year-round news and information about Sundance Institute’s wide array of Artist Programs and Labs.
INSTAGRAM
@SundanceInstitute for highlights of daily events, behind-the-scenes looks, and red carpet coverage direct from the Sundance Film Festival.
SNAPCHAT
Follow SundanceFest on Snapchat for highlights of daily happenings and exclusive behind-the-scenes instant coverage by our social media team.
TUMLBR
The official Tumblr of the Sundance Film Festival includes news coverage roundups, exclusive content, graphics, gifs, user-generated content, and more: http://sundanceinstitute.tumblr.com.
VINE
Behind-the-scenes videos from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Capturing the best moments of the Sundance Film Festival, one six-second Vine video at a time. SundanceFilm.
YOUTUBE
The Sundance Film Festival YouTube Channel is home to all of the 2016 live events and panels as well as exclusive filmmaker and talent interviews.
SPOTIFY
Follow Sundance Institute for fresh playlists from this year’s Sundance Film Festival artists including ASCAP’s Music Cafe artists and the Celebration of Music in Film.
I’ve never completely understood the allure of celebrity. I’d much rather have a photograph of me and friends than me and actors who don’t know me, but it’s there…and it’s here in Park City, Utah. It’s fairly common to see stars skiing Deer Valley or riding Canyons but that’s typically like searching for Waldo. Not to mention asking for a photo while they’re hoisting a tray in the Silver Lake cafeteria will more likely gain you snarls than snaps. But Jan. 22-26, 2016, is a whole different story as celebrity actors, musicians and filmmakers descend on our little mountain town. It’s perfectly legit to become a Parkarazzi so fine tune your camera and your smartphone. It’s Sundance Film Festival time.
During Sundance, the haystacks are gone and the needles are everywhere. There will be no shortage of cameras snapping during this first extended weekend of this independent film festival so get on that bus. This is not a time to be shy.
Get in there and ask if you want a fan photo of Johnny Depp (yes, he’s supposed to attend) or Zoe Kravitz. These celebs come to Park City with the expectation of facetime with fans. You’re not cramping their day to ask for a picture. In my 20 years of covering the Fest I’ve only experienced one actor who negatively vibed me- and I still got the shot:
That said, here’s some advice on getting your ultimate fanpic-
Instead of stepping over and just photobombing your own moment, respectfully ask. Say something like, “Hi, would it be alright if I took a picture with you?” Though it usually doesn’t happen at Sundance, be ok if they say no; don’t take it personally. They might be running late for a meeting; they might see giving you that pic with open the flood gates for everyone nearby, or maybe they haven’t had their makeup done yet. TIP: If you have kid, use him. Celebs love taking pictures with young fans. 
Jonny Depp
Hayley Joel Osmet
Vanessa Paradis
Kevin Smith
Adam Brody
Justin Long
Zoe Kravitz
Elijah Wood
Rachel Griffiths
Laura Dern
Kristen Stewart
Michelle Williams
Rachel Weisz
Kathy Bates
Danny Glover
Paul Rudd
Selena Gomez
Mary Stuart Masterson
Michael C. Hall
Anna Gunn
Nick Jonas
Jenna Malone
Brooklyn Decker
Ryan Eggold
Rosanna Arquette
Molly Shannon
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Daniel Radcliffe
Ellen Page
Allison Janney
Justin Bartha
Chris Noth
Viggo Mortensen
Steve Zahn
Sting
Juliette Lewis
AnnaLynne McCord
Chad Michael Murray
Eryka Badu
Norman Lear
Lena Dunham
Chelsea Handler
Alicia Witt
My Cairn Box has arrived. In fact, I have two boxes to reveal. The first came just before the holidays and I was so busy teaching that I didn’t have time for my other projects like acting, playing with the pooch, writing, reading, cooking, and life in general.
And so, the two boxes sat on my dresser waiting and watching me as I rushed back and forth in ski gear, out of ski gear and off to dinner with clients. This Christmas (compared to the past three seasons) has been surprisingly good. The early snow in the west and the lack of snow in the east has inspired skiers to visit our Beehive State. I am the happy recipient of families looking to improve their ski technique and enhance their overall vacation experience. Seriously, that’s what happens when you take a ski lesson. It makes a ski trip 10x better.
I finally busted open the first parcel. The December box hit the mark- it came with a Lithium 4400 battery pack that fits easily in my pocket to charge my cell two times. Ryan gave me a green screen to play with so this reveal is the perfect opportunity to take it for a test drive.
The setup was simple and there are tons of tutorials on YouTube that helped me figure out how to apply background images using my PowerDirector program. The one thing no one mentioned, however, is that whatever color is in your background should not be in your foreground. You’ll see what I mean when you watch my review……