Looking back with gratitude
Before we bid adieu to 2016, we’d like to tip our hats to a year that will surely remain unique in our memories forevermore. We lost many celebrity idols – Prince, Bowie, Ali, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, and more. We were inspired by historic achievements – the Cubs’ World Series win, giant pandas removed from the endangered species list, Simone Biles’ dazzling performance in Rio, measles declared eradicated in the U.S., and our national parks celebrated their first centennial. Park City rode out the highs and lows of international news like a champ and will look back on 2016 with fond memories of our strong community.
Extraordinary Arts
The musical prowess of Park City hit a new high in 2016 with over 100 shows at venues large and small all over town. During Sundance, there wasn’t a corner on Main Street that wasn’t occupied by a performer. All summer long music could be heard from the Deer Valley Concerts to the Quarry Village Stage, spanning every genre from country to classical. Park City Institute brought in such greats as Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, and Jewel. The Utah Symphony filled the mountain air at Deer Valley with the music of Gershwin. Park City Live burst forth as the premier after-hours music venue and brought us up and coming new artists every week. “Park City loves its music almost as much as it loves its skiing,” said Steve Chin. “… almost.”
The Kimball Arts Center found a new home on Kerns Blvd in 2016 and remains the spearhead in Park City’s ardent support of the visual arts. Their annual summer arts festival on Main Street was bigger than ever in 2016. Several new art dealers such as Prothro Gallery, Lund’s Fine Art, and Terzian Gallery confidently opened their doors for business. The Egyptian Theater packed the house almost every week with their live stage performances and their youth theater program is now nationally renowned. The Park City Film Series continued to bring beautiful and thought provoking cinema to an all-time high number of viewers. Performances by local dance and theater troupes, such as Giving a Bleep, enjoyed record-breaking audiences. All in all, 2016 confirmed Park City’s passion for the arts.
Foodie & Fitness Paradise
Parkites know how to do two things better than any other group: eat well and then exercise it off. For Foodies, 2016 may be remembered as their banner year for new restaurants. Firewood on Main, Vessels in Kimball Junction, Freshies and Momo Haiku Noodle Shop in Prospector all opened to enthusiastic crowds eager to please their inner gourmand. For fitness fanatics, there continued to be more workout options per capita than anywhere. Yoga studios, gyms, and sport specific interest groups have sprung up in every imaginable variety with innumerable ways to burn off calories and fight back aging. Many of the weekend friendly competitions combined the best of Park City by benefiting a good cause, awarded only bragging rights, and continued into the evening with celebrations filled with food and libations.
Community Traditions
Although not new in 2016, the long list of local annual celebrations continued stronger than ever. These events in are part of what keeps Park City such a close knit community. Sundance renewed their commitment to keep P.C. as their headquarters, even though it would have made financial sense to move it to L.A. or New York. The establishment of Park City Mountain Resort as America’s largest ski area brought many changes, but the tradition of Spring Gruv and Pond Skimming has continued by popular demand. Park Silly Market, the Kimball Arts Festival, Savor the Summit, and the 4th of July parade have made Main Street a buzz of activity year-round.
Looking forward with hope
All of us at Chin MacQuoid Fleming Harris are looking forward to another year of living in the best town on earth: Park City. While change is a good and inevitable, we know P.C. will always be the place we love to call home. Looking forward into the New Year, we have no fear because dearly loved friends and family surround us. Our community leaders are good people whom we trust. While we’re not naïve and know there will be many ups and downs over the next 12 months, we are certain that we’ll only grow stronger and more in love with all that Park City is.
