Best of Utah 2013: Logan 

Page 2 of 3

Best Alternative Store
Earthly Awakenings
Logan has no shortage of adorable gift shops and boutiques, but if you’ve already bought your gifts for Mom and now want to find something for your dangerous new boyfriend, there’s only one place in Logan to find what you need. In addition to cigars, cigarettes, flasks and leather jackets, Earthly Awakenings sells incense and crystals of every type, as well as beautiful gift boxes and cheerful sarongs.
21 Federal Ave., Logan, 435-755-8657

• BY RACHEL PIPER
• HERM'S INN

Best New Breakfast Joint
Herm's Inn
This once-abandoned brick building near the entrance to Logan Canyon was expanded and fully renovated before re-opening in early 2012. Herm’s—open seven days a week, a rarity in Logan—serves up breakfast and lunch staples with a few twists, such as the always-inventive mac & cheese of the day and customizable hot cereal. If you’re especially hungry, try the family-style breakfast, billed as feeding a family of four or two college students: 12 scrambled eggs, “mounds” of potatoes, a 16-inch pancake, plus toast, sausage and bacon. Eat in a secluded booth or at the counter with the regulars, or make yourself at home in the bustling main room, where college students rub shoulders with local attorneys on their lunch breaks.
1435 E. Canyon Road, Logan, 435-792-4321, HermsInn.com

Best “I Can’t Believe  I Ate the Whole Bakery Case”
Sweetly Divine
Sweetly Divine offers up mouth-watering desserts and pastries, all created by Polish-born pastry chef Mark Grodkowski. You’ll feel like you’re in a European bakery when you gaze upon the pastry case, stuffed with strawberry tuxedos, chocolate towers, cannolis, tarts and more. If your cravings bend more sour than sweet, stop by on a Tuesday when the pickle soup is being served as the “surprise” soup of the day. A traditional Polish recipe, pickle soup is similar to a creamy potato soup, with an extra tang that comes from the shredded pickles. Sweetly Divine is also known for Grodkowski’s jalapeño jellies, which give a sweet and surprising kick to his gourmet sandwiches.
1309 N. Main, Suite 90, Logan,  435-787-1860, SweetlyDivine.com

Best Hole-in-the-Wall Mexican
La Tormenta
It’s tucked away near a Walmart, but La Tormenta is always packed with people who know that this is the place to find the freshest, most authentic Mexican food around—with very authentic (read: cheap) price tags. Many of the street-style tacos are just $1, and other favorites are also a steal—for $2.99 you’ll get three(!) cheese enchiladas, and tamales are just $1.35 each. Depending on your sense of adventure, taco fillings range from basic chicken to beef head and pork stomach. Freshness is the focus here, and your food arrives at the table accompanied by a condiment caddy, with grilled onions, pico de gallo or salsa verde, and pickled carrots and jalapeños.
1050 E. 1600 North, Logan, 435-787-4640

Best Adventure Prep
The Sportsman
Whether your weekend plans involve a mountain-bike ride or roughing it in front of the fire in a mountain lodge, the Sportsman has you covered. The Main Street emporium sells it all, from skis and bikes down to socks and laces. You can also rent anything you need for a day in the snow, including a car cargo box for hauling it all to the mountains. The fashion-conscious will also love the huge selection of cozy sweaters, fashionable boots and bright outerwear from the best brands—and the yearly outerwear sales are the stuff of legend.
129 N. Main, Logan, 435-752-0211, TheSportsmanLtd.com

• BY RACHEL PIPER
• BOOKS OF YESTERDAY

Best Place to  Spend an Afternoon
Books of Yesterday
To walk into Books of Yesterday is to step back in time. One-fourth of the place is dedicated to video rental—yes, VHS too. But the real appeal is in the books: miles of books, piles of books, millions and billions and trillions of books (well, almost). Formerly a ZCMI department store, bookcases of every shape and size have been arranged, Tetris-style, to fill every inch of the space (including the basement), creating nooks and crannies where one can get lost while browsing for a unique edition of a beloved classic or a vintage ’80s cookbook.
87 N. Main, Logan, 435-753-3838