The SLC Attendee Manual
Get to know the Salt Lake City venues and surrounding areas.
By Scott Renshaw
With the advent of the Locals Quick Pass a decade ago, it became easier than ever for Utah residents to get in some marathon Sundance viewing. Get to know your Salt Lake City venues and the surrounding businesses, and learn how to get the most out of your down-in-the-valley Sundancing.
TRAX It
Consider
public transportation. If you’re coming into downtown from the ’burbs,
and you’re sticking to films at the Broadway Theater, Main Library and Rose Wagner
Center venues, TRAX might be your best transportation option. The
Gallivan Center stop (200 South) lands you almost exactly midway
between the three locations, within a couple blocks of each venue. And with a
short distance between the Broadway and the Rose, a brisk 10-minute
walk will get you from one to the other. Even those coming from more
central locations might want to use the Ballpark TRAX park-and-ride lot
to avoid downtown parking hassles. Tower Theatre screenings will require a drive, though.
Meter Park At Your Own Risk
If you do drive, metered street-parking stalls are free after 6 p.m. on
weeknights, if you can manage to find one. But avoid attempting to
stake out one spot all-day on Saturdays, as you can get ticketed for
exceeding the two-hour limit. You can get validated for the parking
garage next to the Broadway Theater, but if you’re taking in more than
a single show, you’ll need to go through the hassle of exiting and
re-entering, or parking in the pay lots nearer to the Rose Wagner
Center if you’re
changing venues. There is nearby street parking for the Main Library, as well as an underground garage.
Close & Easy Food Bets
Like your Park City counterparts, you may find yourself trying to grab
the quickest possible bite between showtimes. Fortunately, the
three-block corridor on 300 South between the Broadway and Rose Wagner
Center—plus a block in either direction off the major cross
streets—offers numerous options. Pepper’s
(14 W. Broadway, 801-220-0516, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) is a good
weekday lunch spot with pita sandwiches and salads, while Lenny’s Sub Shop (35 E. Broadway, 801-503-0053, Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.) and DP Cheesesteaks
(83 E. Broadway, 801-883-8966, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.) add
Saturday availability. Grab burritos or other quick Mexican fare at Barbacoa
(280 S. Main, 801-746-3798, Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday,
11 a.m.-9 p.m.). For Sunday, when there are even fewer places open, try
Rich’s Burgers ’N Grub
(30 E. Broadway, 801-355-0667, Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Monday-Thursday,
10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.), Toasters (30 E. Broadway, 888-339-3354, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) or Beehive Tea Room (12 W. Broadway, 801-328-4700, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.). Best for late-night: Sicilia (35 W. Broadway, 801-961-7077), open till 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, plus Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
Tower Power
We haven’t forgotten about the other Salt Lake City venue; it’s just
not exactly walking distance from the other two. And transportation
time is definitely something to factor into your plans. Though epic
traffic-light convergences might allow you to get from the heart of
downtown to the 9th and 9th neighborhood in 10 minutes, assume at least
twice that much time for travel to the Tower from the downtown
venues—or vice versa—and finding parking. Don’t make the mistake of
parking in the Smith’s grocery store parking lot, either, as you may be
towed.
Close & Easy Food Bets
There are several lovely sit-down restaurants in the 9th and 9th area, but fewer grab & go options. Dolcetti Gelato
(902 E. 900 South, 801-485-3254, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.;
Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.) features primarily pastries and desserts, but
you can get a sandwich at 9th South Delicatessen (931 E. 900 South, 801-517-3663, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.) or Great Harvest (905 E. 900 South, 801-328-2323, Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.). There is always Smith’s (876 E. 800 South, 801-355-2801) for a quick bite any time. And the 9th and 9th Barbacoa
(859 E. 900 South, 801-524-0853) is open Monday through Friday, 10:30
a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Broadway Centre Cinemas to Salt Lake City Main Library
Cafe Hemingway
(210 E. 400 South, Library Atrium, 801-359-8600, Monday-Thursday, 10
a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 12:45-5
p.m.) offers sandwiches, soups and salads. Similar goodies are available
at Metro Bistro
(350 S. 200 East, 801-359-3333, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday,
10 a.m.-5 p.m.), plus specialty crepes. Sunday options are limited, but
Korner Market (350 S. State,
801-532-2048, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.;
Sunday, noon-6 p.m.) features hot dogs and sandwiches, while Pie Hole (344 S. State, 801-359-4653) provides pizza until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Timing Is Everything
Build
the right amount of time between screenings. Can you really make it
from the Rose Wagner screening ending at 5:02 to the one at the Tower
that starts at 5:30? See above for at least part of that answer;
another part depends on the always tricky matter of when the screenings
actually begin. Don’t be surprised if waitlisters filling in seats or
other logistical issues cause your screening to begin five to 10
minutes later than the scheduled start time. If you’re going from one
venue to another, and unless you’re fond of panicked dashes or
hyperventilating at red lights, play it safe by allowing at least 40
minutes between the scheduled end of one film and the start of the
next—and that’s assuming you don’t plan on eating during that
intermission. You can get by with less—20 minutes or so—if on foot
between the Broadway and Rose Wagner.
The Movie Buff Manual
The People Watching Manual
Park City in 1 Day Manual
Sundance in SLC Manual
