Over the past couple of decades, I've been asked by a significant number of Utahns to pack my bags and move. Same for any number of City Weekly writers or contributors; even our distribution team, I'm told. "If you don't like it here, leave," they say. So, it was no small surprise that I was asked to write an introduction to this year's City Guide, ostensibly to tell everyone how wonderful Salt Lake City and all of Utah are.

Well, of course, we live in a great place! If we didn't, we'd leave, wouldn't we? We wouldn't need to be encouraged to leave. We'd just leave. But we stay. We stay because Salt Lake City is such a fine place that you couldn't pry it from our hands, you couldn't erase it from our minds, you couldn't cleanse it from our souls. Sure, many do leave, and nearly as many return. Of those who don't come home again, their numbers are more than offset by the newcomers who, once they take a look around, settle in themselves and come to call Utah home.

Is that so? Yeah. When I was studying at the University of Utah, we had two seats in Congress. Starting in 2013, we'll have four. So, somebody is sticking around. And why not? In less than an hour, from downtown Salt Lake City, one can travel with any of the four winds and find a different and scenic environment. Try that in Dallas. First, it's impossible to get out of Dallas, and no matter which way you go, it's all the same.

Then again, why leave Salt Lake City at all? Only a handful of American cities have distinctive skyline signatures and Salt Lake City is one of them, a modern city draped by the majestic Wasatch Mountains. Below those mountains, a mix of nightlife, food, music, arts, theater, sports, recreation and religion combine to form unique and vibrant communities of culture.

Give Salt Lake City and all of Utah a try. Pull back the covers. Explore these pages. Give something new a whirl. You'll find out why we stay. Care to join us?

My City, My Utah
In the opening scenes of The Book of Mormon (the Broadway musical, that is), a group of Mormon missionaries meet onstage to receive their mission calls. The scene is set in Salt Lake City, with the LDS Temple painted on the scenery behind them. But along with that familiar iconic landmark are logos for Crown Burger and Zions Bank, both uniquely Utah institutions. It made us wonder, so we asked some of the city's most interesting people what's their Utah "place," the spots that defines the Salt Lake City or Utah experience. Here's what they told us. Read More

Who Dat?
For every performance, it may take dozens of talented professionals working behind the scenes to create the onstage magic that enthralls audiences and keeps the box office churning. We can't list them all in this space, but here are a few of the people behind some of Salt Lake City's finest performing-arts organizations--and two folks who make it worthwhile to go out of town. Read More

Charting the City
Most folks who live in Salt Lake City proper are privy to a secret, which is: They live in a place that offers the vitality, accommodations and attractions of a big city--without the hassles. With a downtown ready to rise up and shock the hell out of everyone, a rapid-transit rail system that is the envy of many cities in the West, and cottages on fruit-tree-lined streets where xeriscaping and chicken coops are all the rage, one thing shines through: Salt Lake City is a surprisingly cool place to live or visit. Check out the various 'hoods and let them reveal their charms. Read More

The Call of the Mall
New stuff makes people happier and more attractive. That's why no uplifting movie is complete without a shopping montage in which the main character and his or her friends run from shop to shop, trying on silly hats or sexy fashions, bursting in and out of dressing rooms, swiping credit cards again and again, and striding through a revolving door with brightly colored shopping bags. It looks so fun--and now you can have the same experience, right here in Salt Lake City. Read More

Mormon Stuff That Doesn't Suck
Like it or not, Utah was founded by Mormons, and while their attitudes on liquor laws and gay marriage can drive outsiders crazy, they give non-Mormons something to love or rebel against. Plus, Mormons have dreamed up some one-of-a-kind attractions you'd never find anywhere else. In the spirit of Rodney King ("People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"), here are a few examples that can be enjoyed by those with no interest in becoming part of the flock. Read More

Salty Citizen
We live in an incredibly vibrant place. We have unparalleled access to outdoor recreation, the arts, booming businesses, and a world-class research, Pac-12, BCS-busting university. Utahns love what the state has to offer, and contribute tremendously to their communities (and to Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns), but they don't have the same passion when it comes to actually going to the polls and engaging in the political process. Simply put, political participation in our state is dismally low. Read More

Visual Arts=Soul Food
You're new in town and feel like a stranger in a strange land. So how do you find your bearings? The answer is, and always has been, art. There is something about the expression of visual art that defines the place where you live and the people who live there. We've asked a number of folks who are "in the know" when it comes to the local arts scene for the best ways to plug in and take part in Salt Lake City's vibrant arts community. Read More

Must Sees
Check out the "new kids" on the block--two museums taking the city by storm--and don't miss Utah's plethora of tried-and-true attractions. Read More

LGBT Game Face
Whether you're a newcomer fresh off the plane, or a Utah native fresh out of the closet, Salt Lake City's vibrant and diverse LGBT scene has something for everybody--so much to offer, in fact, that it can be difficult to know where to begin. To help get you started, here are just a few of the community's many available resources. Ready? Let's play! Read More

Powder Power
Without even getting into Utah's claims about "greatest snow on earth," the numbers for Salt Lake City and skiing speak for themselves. Utah has 14 ski resorts to choose from, 10 of which are within an hour's drive of downtown Salt Lake City. Transportation is easier than ever this season, with the Utah Transit Authority now sending buses from Salt Lake City to Park City (Route 902). Read More

Learn to Ski
Live in Utah, but never given skiing or snowboarding a try? Those who want to pick up a new winter sport will find there are plenty of opportunities for locals, along with some enticing prices. Those who've already tried the slopes and find themselves addicted know being a local has its benefits when it comes to scoring ski deals. Read More

Lose the Lift
Salt Lake City is justifiably proud of the majestic mountains that surround it. The quality of skiing and snowboarding sitting just minutes away from the city can't be beat ... unless that's just not your thing. Well, you don't have to hide any longer. Come out of the ski-equipment closet and be loud and proud that you're a nonskier, because there is plenty to do in the mountain resort town of Park City during the winter. Read More

Escape to the Border
Salt Lake City is surrounded by amazing destinations offering outdoor recreation and entertainment, and serves as a great base for getting away to areas in bordering states that aren't too far over the state line. Here are four of our neighbors that are less than a day's drive away. Read More

Destination Dining
For me, eating is not quite the same as dining. There are loads of places to eat, ranging from franchise burger joints to cutting-edge gourmet palaces. When I dine, however, I look for the convergence of three essential factors: cuisine, service and ambiance. Like a tripod or a three-legged stool, the restaurant experience topples without great food, professional service and appealing ambiance, all working in tandem. Read More

Flying Under the Radar
As a restaurant critic, I'm afforded the opportunity to eat in a lot of fancy places. But, truth be told, my favorite eateries tend to be funky, friendly, mom & pop joints that might not be on many folks' radar screens. Here are some of my most beloved Wasatch Front spots for soulful, no-nonsense meals. Read More

Locavore Love
This list, culled from previous Best of Utah editions, is a beginner’s guide to Utah’s locavore scene. Some early Best of Utah winners continue to garner awards today, proving that a focus on “local” can grow a loyal, even fanatical, following. Read More

Night Notes
Heading out into the heart of a Saturday night may seem overwhelming. If you could use a few tips, we offer "a perfect night on the town," arranged by City Weekly's music critic. You'll just need your ID, some scratch and a sense of adventure (and a local cab company's phone number in your speed dial, in case it comes to that). Read More

SLC Bar Guide
A "night out" in Salt Lake City doesn't have to involve crazy antics with a carrot-studded green Jell-O salad or playing board games with the family. Some imagine our vibrant nightlife is constrained by wacky liquor laws--but how wrong they are. Bars are catching on to the idea of spiked Jell-O salad, and Utah's liquor laws aren't as restrictive as they're made out to be. A night out in Salt Lake City and its surrounding environs can be as elegant or as sassy as any similar-size city, and there are plenty of options, to boot. And the proof's in the pudding (not the Jell-O), so dig in. Read More