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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Salt Lake

Terina Ria

Thank you to everyone who showed up in costume at 801 Day, you all looked fab! Now, it’s time to 

 cool swag bag. We’ll announce the winners in the newsletter this Friday, Aug. 8.

Choose your Salt Lake City icon

Who’s your favorite SLC icon? (City Cast Salt Lake)

Angie Treasure

What better way to celebrate a day all about Salt Lake than by supporting local businesses? Thirty-plus shops, restaurants, and bars up and down 900 South are offering deals in celebration of 

Physical copies will be available for pickup at the following locations:

Visit the businesses for a signature or stamp and enjoy the promotions while you're at it. Every five stamps gets you one ticket to enter an opportunity drawing. Bring your passport with stamps to the City Cast Salt Lake booth at the Milk Block between 5-7:30 p.m. Must be present to win!

Don't want a physical passport? No sweat. Just mention the 801 Day deal at a participating business and enjoy your discount or free activity. (Note: You can only enter the drawing if you have a physical passport.)

The Milk Block is on 402-430 E. and 900 S. The 9 Line is a bike path along 900 South, so we recommend biking. There are a handful of bike racks at the Milk Blocks. If you're looking to take public transit, 

 goes up and down 900 South. If you're driving, you can park on the streets around the venue or at nearby Liberty Park and walk or bike over.

The Milk Block is ADA accessible. We recommend you enter on Denver Street or 900 South.

City Cast Salt Lake is a daily local podcast and newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things Salt Lake City, with conversations and recommendations that make you feel more connected to this beautiful, complex place we call home.

This event is made possible by our sponsors:

City Cast Salt Lake 801 Day Business Deals 2026

The 9 Line Business Passport

Find the best of everything that Salt Lake City has to offer.

Salt Lake’s Best

Salt Lake's Best

Shelby Hintze

 this year gave Salt Lake City its first community-owned grocery store and a year-round home for local food. More than a place to shop, the co-op is built on the idea that neighbors should have a say in where their food comes from and how their grocery store operates. We are so excited to have this resource participating in our 

The co-op's mission prioritizes affordable groceries, sustainable practices, partnerships with Utah farmers and food makers, and a stronger regional food system. On the shelves, you’ll find local produce, bulk foods, pantry staples and specialty products alongside everyday essentials, because sometimes you really do just need the Ben & Jerry’s.

I’m particularly excited by the bulk section, where you're allowed to bring your own containers, instead of keeping track of a million plastic bags that you’ll just put in another container anyway at home.

My beet seeds never really grew, so I’m grabbing some pickled beets from 

Any local lettuce because I really want a BLT with my garden tomatoes but I don’t want … 

 to bring the outdoors in while I stay in the A/C.

The defining characteristic of a food co-op is the fact that the store is member-owned. Anyone can shop there, but for a one-time $300 ownership share (or a $25 monthly payment plan), members gain a voice in 

, including voting for the board of directors and helping shape the store’s future.

Membership also comes with perks like quarterly 10% savings on one purchase, monthly specials, discounts on special orders and events, and potential patronage rebates if the co-op is profitable. Best of all, the investment helps strengthen Utah’s local food economy and support local farmers and producers.

Wasatch Food Co-op Brings A Community-Owned Grocery to Salt Lake

Wasatch Food Co-op Brings A Community-Owned Grocery to 900 South

Keep It Local

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Salt Lake

This 801 Day, we’re taking to the streets. 900 South, to be specific. Businesses from Central Ninth all the way up to 9th and 9th are offering 

 and the new artwork that will be unveiled for the Whale! In addition, you can enter to win prizes by stopping at locations and getting a stamp on your 

Now, I am not a coffee drinker, but I LOVE a coffee shop. The smell, the people watching, the third space of it all. So, I’m starting my day at Loki Coffee for a Peach Please (peach mango syrup, orange juice, and sparkling water) and an avocado toast because I am a homeowner so I can treat myself and I need carbs to gear up for the day.

The husband-wife duo behind Loki Coffee have 

impressive resumes in the coffee shop world

. You can tell there is a lot of passion there, not just for the product but also the community around coffee and local businesses. Loki Coffee emphasizes ethically and sustainably sourced coffee, warm hospitality and meaningful partnerships with local businesses

801 Day Deal: Buy one, get one free voucher

It may be the world we live in, it may be the SSRI, but I have been having weird dreams recently. So I am very intrigued by the 801 Day offer at Blissed Out Heart: a free insight into a dream.

holistic wellness practice founded by Angie Castor

 that helps people reconnect with themselves through body-led healing. Through different mediums, like breathwork and FootZonology, the goal is to help you slow down, release emotional burdens, and listen to yourself.

Next, I’ll be ruminating over the insight into why I am still having dreams about failing a class in high school nearly 20 years later over a lobster roll. I don’t usually associate our landlocked state as a bastion for seafood, but Freshie’s has the awards to prove its bona fides.

The roll, featuring “shore to door in 24” fresh lobster with the perfect blend of butter, mayo, and herbs, was named the 

 at the 2017 Down East Lobster Roll Festival in Portland, Maine. Those folks know their lobstah. And if the unofficial mascot of SLC is going to be a whale statue, might as well lean into it.

801 Day Deal: ½ lobster roll + 8 oz. chowder and drink for $18.01

One of my favorite places to shop, Koo De Ker has been redefining Salt Lake style since 2001 with thoughtfully curated fashion that blends timeless design with everyday wearability. Founder and owner Kyong An Millar has impeccable taste, she’s famous for it (name that movie) and passes it on to her customers. She carries designer pieces alongside inexpensive, but still high-quality pieces for nearly every budget. The store also smells really, really good.

Koo De Ker proves independent boutiques can thrive by prioritizing personal service, quality and lasting style over fast fashion.

801 Day Deals in Salt Lake City

An 801 Day Itinerary Full of Deals

Salt Lake is full of modern pioneers. They built businesses from scratch, preserved cultural traditions, created jobs, and helped make the valley a more connected, vibrant place. Today, these businesses feel like they've always been here — but each one had to carve out its own path, changing Salt Lake along the way.

Workshop SLC has become one of Salt Lake City's premier creative spaces, making art accessible to everyone — from complete beginners to professional artists. The studio offers hands-on classes in 

 and more while fostering a welcoming community built around creativity. Through partnerships, artist residencies, and community outreach, Workshop SLC has become a cultural hub where people connect by creating together.

Scion Cider Bar didn't just open another bar — it introduced many Utahns to an entirely new drinking culture. As one of the nation's first bars dedicated exclusively to hard cider, Scion transformed cider from an occasional seasonal beverage into a 

. With an inventory of independent cider makers from around the world alongside local producers, Scion has expanded Salt Lake's beverage scene.

Note: 21+, outside food welcome, dog-friendly patio

Game Night Games helped transform tabletop gaming from a niche hobby into a thriving community. By hosting 

 for board games, role-playing games, and trading card games, the shop became a gathering place where friendships formed across generations.

Quarters Arcade Bar helped redefine nightlife in Salt Lake City by proving that bars could be 

playful, nostalgic, and deeply community-focused

. Blending classic arcade games, pinball, craft cocktails, and local beer, Quarters created a space where people gather and stay awhile. Its success helped spark a new wave of experiential entertainment across the valley, showing that memorable experiences, not just drinks, make neighborhood hangout spots extra special.

Note: The Downtown bar is located down a flight of stairs. 21+.

Salt Lake Businesses that Blazed a Trail

Modern-Day Pioneers

 has been at the forefront of Utah's specialty food movement. When 

 opened the downtown deli in 1997, gourmet cheese, single-origin chocolate, artisan olive oils, and imported charcuterie were still niche products in Utah. Caputo's 

introduced customers to flavors and food traditions 

from around the world while championing local producers, proving that Utah's culinary scene could be both globally connected and deeply rooted in place.

Caputo's has also helped cultivate a more adventurous dining culture in Salt Lake. For many Utahns, it served as a first introduction to foods they couldn't find anywhere else, and a big difference from the casseroles and Jell-O salads many born-and-raised Utahns were used to. Its influence can be seen in the rise of independent bakeries, specialty grocers, farmers markets, and chef-driven restaurants that now define Salt Lake's thriving culinary scene.

Today, under the leadership of Matt Caputo, the family business continues to push the state's food culture forward. Beyond its 

, hosting tastings, workshops, and classes that help customers understand the stories behind artisan foods. The market has also played a role in nurturing 

, helping launch and promote local makers while giving small producers a platform alongside world-renowned artisans.

How Caputo's in Salt Lake City Changed Utah's Food Scene

Before Viral Charcuterie Boards, There Was Caputo’s

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Salt Lake City. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Salt Lake Food & Drink

Food & Drink

This article is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Power

Summer temps in Utah are high, but your power bill doesn’t have to be. A few small changes around the house can make a noticeable difference without sacrificing comfort.

One of the easiest ways to lower your power bill is setting your air conditioner a few degrees higher. Rocky Mountain Power says 78 is great, and a smart thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature when you’re away.

: Replace or clean filters monthly and consider a seasonal tune-up to help your AC run more efficiently.

Most loads don't need hot water, so switching to cold can save energy. And don’t forget to clean the dryer’s lint trap after every load.

: Save your energy-intensive chores, like laundry and dish washing, for the evening when your house is cooler.

West-facing windows during the summers can be brutal. Keep the blinds or curtains closed during the day, then crack the windows in the evening to let cooler air in.

: Avoid the oven on hot days and use a toaster oven, microwave, or grill instead.

Electronics keep draining power even when they’re off, so unplug devices you aren’t using or connect them to a power strip for an easy shutoff.

: Lower your water heater to 120 degrees. You’ll still have plenty of hot water, but with lower energy costs.

Utah summers are expensive. These simple tips can help Salt Lake residents stay cool, use less energy, and lower their monthly power bills.

How To Save Money on Your Summer Energy Bill in Salt Lake City

How To Save Money on Your Summer Power Bill

Tips and tricks for living your best Salt Lake City life, by locals, for locals.

Salt Lake Life Hacks

This is not the week for outdoor activities, with high heat in the Salt Lake Valley. So stay inside and catch some local theater. From professional to volunteer, there is no shortage of talent and entertainment just around the corner.

When it comes to the Utah theater scene, the Hale family has had an outsized influence. Ruth and Nathan started with a 99-person theater in Glendale, California in the 1940s, which has transformed into two theaters in Utah, with capacity for more than 1,500 theater-goers, combined.

 combines professional-quality sets, costumes, and performances with an intimate, in-the-round stage that places every audience member close to the action. The nonprofit theater presents a year-round season of musicals, family favorites, and classic plays, earning a reputation for spectacular production values and immersive storytelling.

 entertained audiences for 35 years as Hale Center Theater Orem. The company moved in 2025 to a state-of-the-art performing arts center on the doTERRA campus in Pleasant Grove. Each season features Broadway musicals, classic plays, comedies, youth productions, and educational programming.

Since opening in Murray 1989, the Desert Star Playhouse has become known for its original, family-friendly musical parodies that spoof everything from blockbuster movies and Broadway hits to television shows and pop culture. Desert Star puts a melodramatic twist on familiar stories, encouraging audiences to cheer the hero, boo the villain, and expect plenty of improvisation and Utah-specific jokes along the way.

The Draper Historic Theatre has been a cornerstone of the south Salt Lake Valley arts scene since 1938, when it opened as The Pearl, a neighborhood movie house. In its early days, audiences enjoyed vaudeville performances before feature films, and the theater quickly became a gathering place for the growing community.

Today, the nonprofit Draper Historic Theatre produces affordable, family-friendly musicals, comedies, and youth productions while offering opportunities for performers, technicians, and volunteers of all ages. 

Local Theater Recommendations in Utah

Hot Local Theater to Cool You Off

To go or not to go, that is the question.

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the three hour drive from Salt Lake City

Or to remember it’s a world-class theater event in our own backyard

And by attending, participating in a 65-year tradition.

Thanks to my 11th grade AP Lit teacher for the extra credit for every line of the Hamlet soliloquy we memorized. And I thought I’d never use that again …

 is in full-swing in Cedar City, at Southern Utah University. Over the course of the summer and fall, actors and crews from around the world will put on productions for over 100,000 people! Add in an elevation climb and you have the perfect outdoor (and indoor) theater weather, in the mid 70s and 80s.

Founder Fred C. Adams began the festival in 1961 after joining the faculty at SUU and seeing the number of tourists who came to the area for state and national parks. Why not capitalize on a semi-captive audience?

Even if you don’t have tickets to a show, you can still participate in a free performance each night before the curtain rises. The Greenshow is a free, 30-minute outdoor performance presented before evening productions. 

Conceived by Barbara Adams, Fred's wife, the Greenshow recreates the festive atmosphere of Elizabethan theater with live music, dancing, storytelling, comedy, and audience participation on the lawn outside the theaters. The Greenshow is open to everyone and has become one of the festival's most beloved traditions.

A Guide to Utah's Shakespeare Festival 2026

Road-tripping for Shakespeare

Thank you to everyone who showed up in costume at 801 Day, you all looked fab!

801 Day Costume Contest

News and updates about the City Cast Salt Lake podcast and Hey Salt Lake newsletter.

City Cast Salt Lake Announcements

Announcements

David Plotz

City Cast is committed to tracking–and publishing–demographic information about our podcast guests. Diversity is a 

, and accountability is another. We want to have podcast guests who are diverse in race and ethnicity, gender, economic background, and geography. Tracking guest demographics is a way to hold us accountable for representing the diversity of Salt Lake.

So are we living up to our values? How diverse is our podcast guest pool, really?

This is the third year of data we have about City Cast Salt Lake’s guests. (

.) We ask each of our podcast guests a few questions about their gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, and neighborhood. About 90% of guests responded in 2025. The following data encompass a total of 78 guests who appeared on the podcast between Nov. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2025.. (We did not count City Cast Salt Lake staffers who appeared on the podcast.)

We then used census data to compare our podcast guests to the broader city and metro populations. This helps us see how well we’re reflecting the community we’re serving.

City Cast Salt Lake had a higher percentage of Black guests than the city and metro area, and a higher percentage of white guests than the community. City Cast Salt Lake had fewer Hispanic/Latinx guests in 2025 than in 2024, down from 14% to 5%, which is also well below the local population.

We also asked about gender identity. A 51% majority of our guests identified as male, with 47% identifying as female, and 3% identifying as non-binary.

Learn more about guest diversity on other City Cast podcasts here.

This is the third year of data we have about City Cast Salt Lake’s guests. We ask each of our podcast guests a few questions about their gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, and neighborhood.

How Diverse Were City Cast Salt Lake’s Podcast Guests in 2025?

Utah and Salt Lake City leaders have been tight-lipped about where the state's planned 

 could go, but City Cast has learned a potential location for the proposal: on 2200 West between 2100 and 2600 North, in Salt Lake City's Westpointe neighborhood.

State Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, represents the area and told City Cast she met with residents on April 30 to discuss the site. Escamilla said others attending the meeting included Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Council Member Victoria Petro, police Chief Brian Redd, and state Homeless Coordinator Wayne Niederhauser. City Cast also talked with a property owner in the area, Angela Taylor, who attended the meeting and said officials mentioned they were eyeing land "on 2200 West, with I-215 being the neighbor to the east."

According to Escamilla, it's one of a handful of locations the Utah Homeless Services Board is considering for a facility that has been described as a 30-acre 

"transformative, centralized campus model."

 The senator said she's been told this spot on Salt Lake City's Westside is among the top options.

Still, the state won’t confirm the site. In a statement to City Cast, Sarah Nielson, a spokesperson for the Office of Homeless Services, said a final selection hasn't been made.

"The Office of Homeless Services is actively evaluating potential locations for a transformative campus, as directed by the Utah Homeless Services Board," Nielson said. "Our office remains committed to working collaboratively with municipalities, residents, businesses, and all stakeholders in the statewide homeless response while ensuring public safety and benefitting the communities involved."

Similarly, Andrew Wittenberg, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, had little to share, but in a statement said, “Mayor Mendenhall remains steadfast in her desire to see the creation of additional, permanent shelter options. Our understanding is the State Office of Homeless Services is currently evaluating numerous locations, but we cannot confirm any additional details at this time.”

Regardless of whether the Westside location becomes the final site, some residents have already sounded the alarm. A post on the Rose Park Communities Facebook page claims the shelter would 

 and open space. Additionally, North Salt Lake community members appear to be circulating a petition on Change.org, 

 for being “too close to schools,” among other concerns. As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had 224 signatures.

The Utah Legislature paved the path for the campus landing in Salt Lake City earlier this year. A new law allows the state to 

 to put the shelter in Salt Lake City. And the clock is ticking: The Homeless Services Board set a deadline of October 2025 to build the facility.

Now, it's just a matter of where exactly it'll go. Wherever it's located, it's sure to draw strong feelings from community stakeholders. Many Westside residents in particular have long felt their neighborhoods are disproportionately targeted, a sentiment echoed by Sen. Luz Escamilla.

"We want to see a more robust system that is helping this vulnerable population," she said.

"But we also want to make sure that everyone in Utah is sharing that responsibility. Not just the Westside of Salt Lake City."

This is a breaking news story and may be updated.

Utah and Salt Lake City leaders have been tight-lipped about where the state's planned 1,200-bed homeless campus could go, but City Cast has learned a potential location for the proposal: on 2200 West between 2100 and 2600 North, in Salt Lake City's Westpoint neighborhood.

State Eyes SLC's Westside For Homeless Campus

Welcome to City Cast Salt Lake Neighbors, our newly revamped membership program that helps deepen your connection to Salt Lake. Here’s everything you need to know about our growing Neighbor community.

What It Means to Be a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor

At City Cast Salt Lake, our team brings you the stories that matter — right here in our own backyard. We dig deep into the conversations shaping our communities, with the residents who give the city its heartbeat. In a time with increasing rhetoric and a barrage of national headlines, we spotlight the conversations impacting our neighborhoods, and celebrate the neighbors who make Salt Lake unique.

Because better neighbors make for better cities.

 And City Cast Salt Lake Neighbors are the best.

Your membership directly supports local journalism and the stories you rely on to better understand Salt Lake. Here’s what else you get:

 You’ll get access to regular events like special insider tours, local volunteering meetups, happy hours with other City Cast Salt Lake Neighbors, and other Neighbors-only events where we share ideas about how to make the city better for everyone.

submit your favorite local business or organization

 to be mentioned in the show and in the Hey Salt Lake newsletter. It’s your chance to shine a light on the local spots making a difference.

 right in your inbox every Monday, so you can make the most of your time in the city.

 A special feed just for Neighbors where you can listen to the City Cast Salt Lake podcast without advertisements.

Become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor and help us build a better city, one good neighbor at a time.

Join the growing community of City Cast Salt Lake Neighbors

Here’s everything you need to know about our new membership program, expanded benefits, and member exclusives.

 What Is City Cast Neighbors?

Introducing City Cast Salt Lake Neighbors

Good afternoon, Salt Lakers. We’re bringing you some breaking news about the Sundance Film Festival.

The town of Boulder, Colorado has been announced as the Sundance Film Festival’s new home, beginning in 2027.

Park City hosted the glitzy celebration of independent filmmaking for more than 40 years — a source of pride for Utahns and $132 million in economic impact.

This morning, festival organizers rejected bids from Cincinnati, Ohio and a joint bid from Park City/Salt Lake City, leaving more than $13 million in public and philanthropic dollars on the table in Utah.

The Sundance Institute has been coy about the cause of this move, but journalists have pointed out the 

 in the wake of the pandemic, and clashes with 

For more context on what this move means for Utahns, listen to the 

Announcements

801 Day Costume Contest

Terina Ria

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Announcements

How Diverse Were City Cast Salt Lake’s Podcast Guests in 2025?

State Eyes SLC's Westside For Homeless Campus

Introducing City Cast Salt Lake Neighbors

BREAKING NEWS: Sundance Film Festival To Leave Utah

How Diverse Were City Cast Salt Lake’s Podcast Guests in 2024?

Join City Cast Salt Lake’s Book Club

How Diverse Were City Cast Salt Lake’s Podcast Guests in 2023?

Introducing Our New Membership Program

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An 801 Day Itinerary Full of Deals

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Before Viral Charcuterie Boards, There Was Caputo’s

How To Save Money on Your Summer Power Bill

Hot Local Theater to Cool You Off

Road-tripping for Shakespeare