How will the Coronavirus impact the Housing Market? Update March 16, 2020
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5 of the Best Coffee Shops in SLC
One may judge a city by its coffee shops. We’re not talking about the Starbucks and Dunkin’s of the world. We’re focusing on the smaller chains and local treasures that reside there. Finding a good coffee shop is like finding the perfect home. Once you find it, you know it’s the one for you.
Here are a few favorites in Salt Lake City that you could try.
Coffee Garden
878 E. 900 S., Salt Lake City, UT
Coffee Garden has an industrial-contemporary style with hints of artistic flair.
It has a distinctly home-like feel, which is likely why it has been deemed the “neighborhood living room.” They have been in the same location for 27 years, and it is the oldest coffee house of their style in Salt Lake City.
“We taught Salt Lake City what good coffee is supposed to taste like,” said owner Alan Hebertson. This is likely why it is such a popular destination for the coffee lovers all around. It has a small, quiet section perfect for a client meeting or work session. It’s quite popular among students at the university as well as a spot to study.
Their most popular drinks are their espresso-based drinks. This author has to agree because their Americano was divine. Their baked goods are another large draw, as the majority are made in-house.
They do not host any events, preferring to make sure the shop is open to all. They frequently support local artists and donate to schools and other events in the 9th & 9th area.
Campos Coffee Roastery & Kitchen
228 S. Edison St., Salt Lake City, UT
Campos Coffee Roastery & Kitchen is an Australian-born shop, with an open and bright modern-industrial feel. The large windows, skylights, and plant life create a lively and enlightening atmosphere for any client meeting, work session, or meeting with friends.
Hillary Merill, Operations Manager let us know about the large, specially-created front windows that can be opened for the optimal indoor/outdoor experience. The windows were designed and built by a company that makes airline hangers, significantly contributing to the industrial vibe.
Campos is a major coffee chain in Australia, but is currently in start-up mode in the U.S., with the only two locations, this one in Salt Lake, and the other in Park City.
Cappuccinos and other espresso-based drinks are also the most popular here due to the specific training that baristas receive on how to make the perfect cup. Another popular drink is the Australian Iced coffee, which is an Iced coffee made with gelato and whipped cream. They also feature many single origin single pours from limited release coffee beans.
Community events like public cuppings, summer BBQs and more are on their way, so you will want to keep up with them on social media to make sure you know as soon as these events get underway.
Sugar House Coffee
2011 S. 1100 E., Salt Lake City, UT
Sugar House Coffee is a hip and artsy space in the heart of Sugar House.
This shop makes our go-to list because of the warm and inviting atmosphere. Art and inspirational quotes line the walls, and the space is nearly always full of an exceedingly diverse group of people, from students to yoga enthusiasts and businesspeople.
Emily Potts, the general manager of Sugar House Coffee considers the place “the ‘Cheers’ of coffee shops,” as they aim to make everyone feel warm and comfortable. The mission of the coffee shop is to “[provide] the community with a public gathering space where everyone is safe to share their story.”
They succeed in bringing the community together by being a part of the Sugar House Art Walk, hosting live jazz music nights twice per month, a monthly book club, and a monthly open mic.
Why not try a warm and inviting drink like the Karmel Sutra, a white caramel mocha, as it is their most popular drink, and pair it with one of their food options. Food options include many vegan and gluten-free selections using products from other local businesses wherever possible.
Three Pines Coffee
165 S. Main St, Salt Lake City, UT
Three Pines Coffee is an ultra-small coffee shop with a retro vibe. It is ideally located on Main Street and is perfect for a pick-me-up when strolling the heart of downtown SLC.
Once inside, you are immediately drawn by their neon signage, vintage coffee machine and shelves full of vinyl. Look closely and you will spot the record player.
The shop is less than 500 sq. ft. and only seats about 13 people, creating an intimate coffee experience for those who decide to drink in-house. The owners, Nick Price and Meg Frampton say that the small size “allows us to really focus on the essentials,” like their coffee.
Their drip coffee is generally their most popular, with an espresso with milk following close behind. They like to “keep things simple, pure, and straightforward … [They] put a lot of time into achieving the optimum extraction and … best possible balance in flavor.” As the weather warms up, the most served beverage becomes their house-made cold brew.
Other local ingredients include locally-sourced whole milk, house-made almond milk, and house-made vanilla syrup.
The Rose Establishment
235 S. 400 W., Salt Lake City, UT
The Rose Establishment is another modern-industrial chic location just outside the Gateway in downtown SLC.
This shop has a small, yet inviting atmosphere, bringing modern touches to a building with a deep history. The space originated as a meat packing plant, and had a lot of lives since then, serving as a restaurant, plant shop, and even a personal residence before it’s current reincarnation.
Shaylee Syme, General Manager of The Rose Establishment says that their lattes and house-made signature drinks, as well as old-school standards (like a London Fog) with Rose Establishment twists make up some of the most popular drinks.
Their high quality coffee and food are some of the greatest draws.
The Rose Establishment will be starting up a gallery stroll in the next few months, and will be hosting other community events such as wine evenings. They are also available for private events. You could even host your wedding there!
Sugar Bean – Honorable Mention
1240 E. 2100 S. Suite 150, Salt Lake City, UT
Sugar Bean Coffee gets an honorable mention as Windermere Utah’s favorite in-building coffee shop. Sugar bean is located in the Redman building in Sugar House, sharing a home office with both Windermere Real Estate and Windermere Commercial Real Estate. When you come in for a cup, stop by to visit with our agents or say hi to our friendly staff.
Three New Development Updates in Park City
During the winter months, Park City is bustling with outdoor recreation and wildlife, and is a paragon of healthy living and luxury. So, when it comes to new developments in the area, you already know the standards are set very, very high.
With three new projects well under way, we’d like to take a moment to walk you through some of these exciting locales on the off chance your might not have heard about them. Without further ado, let’s pumped for the newcomers on the scene!
The Mayflower Rendering Courtesy of Extell Development
The Mayflower
If you haven’t heard of The Mayflower (the resort, not the English ship from the 1600s) The Park Record has been covering this development since 2019. Utah Business also had some thorough insights as things continue moving forward, and are some of our favorite juicy details about this development:
“Most notably, a brand-new resort will transform the hills overlooking the Jordanelle reservoir. On the opposite side of the same mountain that hosts Deer Valley, the Mayflower resort will cover nearly 6,000 acres—almost three times the size of Deer Valley—and contain the world’s largest ski beach. (What’s a ski beach, you ask? An oxymoron, etymologically-speaking. But they’ll have the biggest.)
“Mayflower “could have up to 1,560 residential units, 800 hotel rooms, 95,000 square feet of workforce housing, and 250,000 square feet of commercial space,” per Salt Lake Tribune reportage, though the project has its share of controversy. On the plus side, it functions as a recreational military facility, with 100 rooms reserved for military members to use at a discount.”
There is a touch of controversy surrounding this project – mostly due to it’s location in the foothills of Jordanelle – so if you’re interesting in reading up on that, feel free to check out either of the articles we sited above.
// Courtesy of St Regis
The St. Regis (Expansion)
As described by Marriot, The St. Regis at Deer Valley strives to “create an atmosphere of exquisite, immersive experiences — with obsessive attention paid to every detail and desire — that transport you to a world of extravagant discretion. Our mountainside resort hotel in Park City, Utah redefines luxury with subtle sophistication and thoughtful accommodations.”
The fact that it is expanding means that there will be more of this fantastic resort community to love. CPE (Commercial Property Executive) published an article that details the cost of the St. Regis expansion, as well as some of the added features.
“Sonnenblick-Eichner Co. has arranged $60 million in financing for St. Regis Deer Valley, a AAA Five Diamond year-round destination resort in the Deer Valley ski area in Park City, Utah…
“…Deer Valley was purchased last August, before it was a St. Regis, by affiliates of KSL Capital Partners and Henry Crown & Co.
“Those two entities had just weeks prior finished combining Intrawest Resorts Holdings Inc., Mammoth Resorts and Squaw Valley Ski Holdings into one company, which owns 12 four-season mountain resorts with 6 millions skier visits and 20,000 skiable acres, along with “significant land available” for future development.”
We are waiting with baited breath to see the unveiling of what promises to be a sumptuous addition to an already stunning resort.
Courtesy of Pendry Residences
Pendry Residences Park City
Much like the Mayflower, The Pendry is a complete new-comer on the Park City scene. With a budget of $165 million, this resort promises “152 guestrooms and suites―condos too. Restaurants, spa, and a fitness center round out the package.” There isn’t much more to know just yet about what the aesthetic will be, and there haven’t yet been any renderings released to the public, so only time will tell which features will become favorites among the guests.
Finally! The Foothill Trail System Master Plan
On March 3, The Salt Lake City Council adopted the Foothills Trail System Master plan to improve and create trails within the system.
The plan aims to improve and create environmentally sustainable, accessible, safe, and low-maintenance trails from the North Salt Lake boundary to Emigration Canyon.
This plan has been in the works since 2016, when a public input process gathered public support and feedback. This feedback helped to guide how the plan was developed and will influence trail development projects for the next 10 years.
The vision of the plan is for “The Foothills Natural Area [to] provide a variety of recreational trail experiences for all ages and abilities while managing the Foothills’ environmental resources for future generations.” according to the Salt Lake County Public Lands webpage.
Once the plan is fully implemented, the trail system will include:
- 65 miles of new trails and 41 miles of existing trails, for a total system length of 106 trail miles.
- A mix of multi-directional and one-way trails, some with shared-uses and others dedicated to a single use, like walking or biking.
- A growing network of improved trailheads with information kiosks.
- Wayfinding signage located at every trail intersection.
- Three ‘Habitat Study Areas’ where biological impact assessments will be conducted to inform trail alignments and mitigate disruption of native species.
You can learn more about the details of the plan on the Public Lands Webpage.
Further responses to key three issues brought up in February 2020 can be found on the Salt Lake City Council’s website.
How to Know if it’s Time to Downsize
Choosing less space often has to do with a desire to live a life that’s simpler. Whether you’re retiring, want an eco-friendly, low-maintenance lifestyle or your children have moved away, downsizing might be the best option for you. Here are the advantages and disadvantages to consider before making the move and questions to begin asking yourself now.
Advantages
- Increased cash flow.
- Spend less on your mortgage payment and you are likely to have more money leftover for other needs or desires.
- More time.
- Cut down on time spent on household chores such as cleaning and vacuuming which will leave you with more hours in the day to do something more enjoyable.
- Lower utility bills.
- Costs less to heat and air condition a small home.
- Less square footage decreases the amount of energy expended.
- Reducing energy is better for the environment and it helps keep your home green.
- Reduced consumption.
- You would likely buy less since you won’t necessarily have the room for it.
- Minimized stress.
- Homeowners who have successfully downsized often feel happier because they are no longer overwhelmed by the demands of a larger home.
- Less responsibility, less housework to do, increased cash flow and flexibility equals reduced stress.
Image Source: Shutterstock
Disadvantages
- Fewer belongings.
- Moving into a smaller space would mean you would need to give away or donate furniture, books, kitchen supplies, etc.
- No room for guests.
- Hosting holiday dinners might be out of the question for a smaller home.
- Space restrictions.
- Less space means you could feel cramped.
- Lifestyle changes.
- For long-term homeowners, downsizing means changing a lifestyle.
What to consider before downsizing
These questions are important to ask yourself because for some people, downsizing may not be the best option for them.
- Does size matter to me?
- Think about how much your identity is wrapped in your house.
- Is it important for you to have a guest room or a second bathroom?
- Will I miss some important things about a more spacious home?
- Will moving into a smaller home feel like a step backward?
- How will other life events affect my living in a smaller home?
- Consider possible scenarios you may not expect such as adult children moving back home or if you plan to add a child.
The Cost to You
- How much will it cost to replace the furniture?
- When you move into a smaller home this means you might have to downsize your furniture to make room.
- How much will it cost to get rid of the stuff I don’t need or won’t fit?
- It’s important to have a plan for how you’re going to sell or give away the things you don’t need.
- Consider things like family heirlooms. What are you going to do with all your antiques or treasures that your smaller home may not be able to accommodate?
- How much will I get when I sell my current home, and will it help cover the cost of buying my new home?
If you know downsizing is the right option for you, you’re probably asking yourself, “Should I sell first and then buy or buy first and then sell?”. When you’re ready to discuss your options let me know !
Sundance in the City (Salt Lake City, that is.)
As we mentioned in the previous post, Sundance Film Festival will be starting in just a little over a week. We couldn’t be more excited! We’ve already given you the ins and outs of how to catch the festival in Park City, so now we’d like to tell you about where you can catch the events on this side of the mountains.
But first a little information about tickets…
Tickets
One of the most important things to remember is that each city in the Sundance event schedule is separated by a 30- to 75-minute drive, so you will want to make sure you select screening tickets in the city where you plan on spending most of your time.
Tickets went on sale for Sundance members yesterday, and will be on sale tomorrow, January 16th, for locals. Tickets will be available until they’re completely sold out. The non-local public can purchase tickets starting January 21st, so if you’re planning on attending from out of state, you’ll want to make sure to be online right at 10am (MST) to ensure you can grab your seats.
The Salt Lake City theaters that will be hosting premiers and showings are as follows:
Broadway Centre Cinema
Grand Theatre
Rose Wagner Center
Salt Lake City Library Theatre
Tower Theatre
You can view the full event schedule here. And, if you’re trying to up your chances of catching sight of one of your Hollywood favorites, we loved this article that tells you exactly who is in which film.
Making Your Experience Amazing:
The great news is that parking in SLC is different a lot more ample than in Park City! If you’re local, or planning on spending your time exclusively at screenings in SLC, there are more than enough places to choose from as far as parking goes. If you are spending the day up in Park City, we would highly recommend taking an Uber up, and using SLC’s great public transportation to get around town! (No need to pay for more meters than you need to.)
One of the other great advantages to enjoying the festival in Salt Lake is for the wealth of other activities to explore in your down time. Utah Business reports:
“The Queer Lounge, adding new music choices and drag performances, joins the always-popular Festival Lounges at Copper Common downtown and East Liberty Tap House in Sugar House, where local musicians are performing live nightly at 7 and 10 p.m. from Friday, Jan. 24, through Saturday, Feb. 1. A full entertainment schedule follows.
Helping locals and visitors alike get their Sundance Film Festival groove on in Utah’s capital city during the 10-day event, the Sundance Film Festival Lounges are an ideal place to continue the conversation after taking in this year’s roster of amazing film offerings. The Lounges are a great, affordable and convenient way to experience the magic of the Festival as there are no entrance fees and they’re open to the public, but seating is limited. All Festival Lounges are ideal locations to discuss film, art, theater and cultural pursuits both pre- and post-screenings.”
If you end up having any downtime between events, you can also feel free to swing by our Redman office! We’ve got a gorgeous gallery featuring the works of Michael Nikola on the 6th and 7th floors, and our agents and staff are more than happy to point you to more points of interest in the city.
For any of your other event related questions, be sure to check out the Sundance website, and be sure to check out the festival map that includes more details on each venue, theatre, and even shuttle routes.
To get notified about traffic incidents, road closures, weather conditions, and other emergencie, you can sign up for a joint Emergency Alert Program between the Sundance Film Festival and Park City. All you have to do is text FILMFEST to 888777 to start receiving alerts during the Sundance Film Festival. (Standard text messaging rates apply.)
Sundancing like a Park City Local
If you’ve been keeping up with the Park City events calendar, you know that one of the biggest and brightest events of the year is just around the corner: the Sundance Film Festival. Starting January 23rd and running until February 2nd, Sundance is a celebration of cinematography, and also happens to be the largest independent film festival in the United States.
Sundance describes itself in this way:
“Our 10-day Festival welcomes more than 124,000 attendees and spreads out across three locations: Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Mountain Resort near Provo.”
Whether you’re a veteran attendee, or you’re looking forward to your first time at a Sundance screening, we’ve put together this helpful guide to make sure you can make it to the films you want to see in the most convenient, comfortable way.
Tickets
One of the most important things to remember is that each city in the Sundance event schedule is separated by a 30- to 75-minute drive, so you will want to make sure you select screening tickets in the city where you plan on spending most of your time.
Tickets went on sale for Sundance members yesterday, and will be on sale tomorrow, January 16th, for locals. Tickets will be available until they’re completely sold out. The non-local public can purchase tickets starting January 21st, so if you’re planning on attending from out of state, you’ll want to make sure to be online right at 10am (MST) to ensure you can grab your seats.
The Park City theaters that will be hosting premiers and showings are as follows:
Eccles Theatre
Egyptian Theatre
Prospector Square Theatre
The MARC Theatre
The Ray Theatre
Making Your Experience Amazing:
Pro-tip #1: Don’t drive. While Park City is charming, beautiful, elegant, and a natural wonderland, it’s not known exactly for its parking availability. (Ironic for a place called “Park” City, right?) In reality, parking during Sundance is a nightmare. We suggest you come via carpool, Uber or take advantage of the free PC Public transportation.
Pro-tip #2: Dress for the occasion. Park City is a very walkable town, and since we’ve already discussed the need for ride sharing, you’ll need to bring proper footwear (i.e. insulated and waterproof snow boots). Sorels are the preferred brand of Park City, and they even have a whole line dedicated to the city! That’s just one option, if you’re in need of something with great traction but that is still very cute.
Pro-tip #3: Have a plan. If you already have tickets, YAY YOU!! We talked about ticket sales above, but you’ll want to keep in mind the distances between cities if you’re looking to catch a certain film in a certain place. And, if you’re trying to up your chances of catching sight of one of your Hollywood favorites, we loved this article that tells you exactly who is in which film.
For any of your other event related questions, be sure to check out the Sundance website, and be sure to check out the festival map that includes more details on each venue, theatre, and even shuttle routes.
We hope you have a fantastic time at Sundance! If you’ve got any down time between events, make sure to visit us at our Silver Star office (hello, free silver mine tour?)!
MCS Flood Relief Fundraiser – Almost Ablaze @ Tower Theatre Dec 3
Click here to purchase tickets, donate, or for more info.
Celebrating Halloween in SLC
With Halloween less than two short weeks away, we thought we'd share some awesome ways to celebrate one Utah's fav holidays.
For the Whole Family:
Garden After Dark at Red Butte Gardens
Pumpkin Days & Festival of Scarecrows at Wheeler Farm
Zombie Paintball Control at the Provo Corn Maze
For a Really Good Scare:
Shows and Performances:
Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Midvale Mainstreet Theatre
For FREE!:
Monster Block Party at Gallivan Plaza
Cemetery Clues at the Murray Cemetary