˄

1.22.20

sundance film festival

It’s just about time for one of America’s most respected film festivals: Sundance Film Festival (taking place from January 23 to February 2 in Park City, Utah). In addition to all the films you can preview, it-girl food journalist and Unicorn Foods author, Kat Odell, put together a guide calling out a number of recommended engagements, from dining and drinking to wellness-supporting events. (And also, what to wear.) Read on for your exclusive Sundance Film Festival 2020 guide…

If you want to move your body | Chase Sapphire is hosting a number of events this year during Sundance. The brand is taking over 573 Main Street with a house (cardholders can pop in for complimentary coffee, water bottles, concierge services, and complimentary beer and whiskey tastings daily from 3 to 4:30 pm), and their card members can sign up for complimentary yoga sessions. Snag a spot at the front desk (a +1 is welcome, too) on January 25 at 9:30 am with Jendar Morales, or January 30 at 9:30 am with Katie Woods. Both classes are a combo of restorative and easy vinyasa yoga.

If you want to sweat like crazy | Cult favorite fitness studio Barry’s is bringing its red room to the snowy white slopes of Park City for a limited time. Starting Friday, January 24, Barry’s will be offering complimentary workout classes taught by their top instructors brought in from NY and LA. (including Barry’s CEO, Joey Gonzalez) Book your class directly via this link: The pop up runs through February 2, so with only 60 classes in 10 days you better act fast! Class schedule is as follows: Friday, 1/24 – Sunday, 2/2 Weekdays (Mon – Fri) – 6:30am, 8:30am, 9:45am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm Weekends (Sat – Sun) – 7:30am, 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am.

If you’re hungry | First things first: Before attending Sundance, you’ll want to reserve dining. Because let’s be honest, all the best restaurants will be booked up. For breakfast and lunch, consider Five5eeds, an Aussie coffee joint serving avo toast, chia pudding and superfood salads. For another clean option, consider Harvest, where you can snag similar such plates, along with paleo banana bread and a Vietnamese banh mi sando.

Park City and environs count a number of eateries geared to the locally-sourced mantra. By way of dinner, check out Twisted Fern for a new American-style menu of Utah elk with coffee-cacao glace and sweet potato agnolotti en brodo. Another spot to consider is Tupelo, also slinging seasonal new American fare like locally-made burrata sumac and aged sherry vinegar and venison with ancho-chile demi-glace. Sourcing regionally and seasonally is likewise the mantra at Handle, a chic engagement dedicated to plates of Hamachi crudo with citrus ponzu, and General Tso cauliflower with sriacha vinaigrette. For those keen on ramen, take a 40-minute drive to Salt Lake City for the state’s best soupy-noodles: Tosh’s.

For formal dining option | Check out ChefDance (now in its 17th year), a Sundance-specific getup that celebrates the marriage of food and film. And, just like last year, there’s an incredible lineup of talent. California chef, activist and godmother of farm-to-table cuisine Alice Waters of Chez Panisse will host a brunch on January 24, and honored at a dinner cooked by chef Gabriela Cámara of acclaimed Mexico City eatery, Contramar that evening. Meanwhile, James Beard winning chef Shawn McClain of Sage in Las Vegas will cook a dinner on January 27. Also, a number of top chefs will be hosting discussions via ChefDance’s Social Impact Lounge (see the full lineup and score seats here).

If you’re thirsty | Prized for its small-batch whiskeys, every drink enthusiast needs to stop by Highwest Distillery. It is THE place to be. While you’ll likely want to come for drinks, it’s worthwhile to note that Highwest also serves dinner. In terms of booze, try a sample flight (which includes house-distilled bourbon, two types of rye and a brown blend), or opt for a seasonal cocktail—like Little Big Man, using house-produced bourbon along with passion fruit, mezcal, yuzu, lime and yellow Chartreuse.

If you want to learn to cook | Los Angeles chef (Playa Provisions, Hudson House) and former Top Chef contestant Brooke Williamson is dropping by Chase Sapphire on Main for a public cooking demo on January 25 from 1:30 to 2:15pm. The chef says she’s planning to make buttermilk biscuits with Dungeness crab and lobster gravy. Yum.

If you want to chill out | Take a break from the chaos with an immersion in vibrations via a sound bath, totally gratis. Organized by spoken-word entertainment company Audible, the brand’s Speakeasy claims 692 Main Street. It runs January 24 to 26 from 10:30am to 4pm and January 27 from 10am to 3pm. Also offering 30-minute sound bath sessions (by sound bath and meditation expert Sara Auster) open from 9 to 10am, Friday through Sunday. (RSVP here to snag a session.) During the Speakeasy’s remaining hours, pop in for audio entertainment from a slate of storytellers.

If you want to give back | On January 23, movie database IMDbPro is hosting Sundance’s largest annual fundraiser, An Artist at the Table. Full details (and tix) here, but the evening includes the world premiere of documentary Crip Camp (produced by Barak and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions), followed by a dinner and discussion.

Bottom banner image
From our friends