Month: February 2022

Where to Shop, According to a Brooklynite

My trendiest friend, unshockingly, lives in Brooklyn. She’s my go-to for all shopping advice. She values quality, lasting pieces, which is one of the many things that I love about her taste. Even more, her big city life gives her exposure to what’s “in.” I asked her to create a list of cxΩ her favorite, “fun” places to shop. Below, I’m sharing the list and her verbiage to describe the brands. Some are more well-known, others are obscure… but, all are cool AF. 

1. Alex Mill
When you're tired of J. Crew, but you want essentially the same stuff. 

2. & Other Stories
For an H&M Reload

3. Rachel Comey 
You're a rich Brooklyn mom (or want to be).

4. No. 6 Store 
Also bringing those wealthy Brooklyn mom vibes, clogs and shearling lined boots.

5. Babaa
The Brooklynite has wanted one of these sweaters for five years.

6. Rouje
"Dress me like one of your french girls," also can't be afraid of Euro sizing.

7. Lisa Say Gah 
For when you're pretending that you're a Gen Z.

8. ARQ
Underwear, but make it fashion.

9. Natori
Big girl bra.

10. Veja
The new Stan Smiths.

11. Online Ceramics
When you're so cool that it hurts.

12. Credo Beauty 
For that clean beauty fix.

13. AYR
"I think that their striped shirt is one of Oprah's favorite things."

14. Coming Soon NY 
Revamped HomeGoods.

15. Catbird NYC 
"You have to own a piece of jewelry from here to live in Brooklyn, no exaggeration." 

16. Everlane
Everyone also shops at this spot.

17. Big Bud Press 
Cool Pants.

18. Loeffler Randall
Those sandals with the big bow.

19. Susan Alexandra 
Accessories for adults pretending to be kids. 

20. COS
When you're a chic minimalist alien. Also a nicer uniqlo.

21. Helen Levi Ceramics 
Cute ceramics that sell quickly, so sign up for her newsletter if you want notice when she's posting new stuff. 

22. Solid & Striped 
Swimsuits.

23. Summer Salt 
Flattering Swimsuits.

24. DÔEN
Picture yourself in a prairie at sunset. Your husband is riding horseback to your beautiful home on the ranch. You have one million dollars and you are wearing DÔEN

A High-End Park City Winter Guide

Table of Contents

INTRO, LOCATION & TRANSPORTATION

The below summarizes lessons learned, aka how to maximize time in the world’s best ski town, from our time spent wedding planning in Park City, UT for our May 28th, 2022 wedding. Below, I’ve broken down our can’t miss winter-based recommendations. Note, summer recs are similar, but some logistical things change slightly, e.g., the shuttle service around town is a bit different in the summer versus winter.

Keep in mind that like most high-end ski villages, Park City is not particularly “budget friendly.” Some, i.e., myself, might argue that Aspen and Vail are slightly more costly, but Park City is up there. Lodging prices decrease in the off-season, May and part of the summer, and are highest during peak ski season.

Park City is only ~31 miles east of the Salt Lake International Airport, one of my favorite airports, though its idyllic APRES mountain “vibe” makes it feel a world away. Its convenience to travel to from all around the country is partially why we selected it as the location for our destination wedding, and why you should consider it for your next getaway. (Obviously it’s better than Aspen or Vail where you have to drive 4 and 2 hours respectively to reach the end destination). Deer Valley is Park City’s neighboring resort, they are ~1 mile away from each other. I often use Deer Valley and Park City interchangeably, but they are different resorts with different “feels…” more on this below.

Depending on where you stay, you can get by without renting a car (as long as you schedule transportation to and from the airport). If you plan to stay in Park City/Deer Valley, then the free shuttle transportation around downtown and to both mountains (Park City and Deer Valley) is fantastic. For post skiing activities, APRES style, getting an uber is easy. Many of the resorts also offer their own private, free transportation services as part of the “resort” fee. The resort transportation is usually very good.

If you plan to venture outside of Park City, which is not totally necessary, then having a car could be beneficial, I think this is especially the case during the summer when some of the best hikes go beyond the resorts (but some might argue that it’s worthwhile to venture over to Snowbird for a day of skiing, which is wonderful).

LODGING

Below I list a variety of lodging options. Park City and Deer Valley have fantastic airbnbs, but also great luxury ski-in, ski-out resorts. Be prepared to pay top dollar for anything ski-in, ski-out, and most accommodations in general.

Airbnbs

Unordinary Loft
  • Close to everything
  • Studio, 1-Bath
  • No dogs
  • ~$300/night

Book
Spacious Modern Condo
  • Also close to everything
  • 3-Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths
  • No dogs
  • ~$500-$750/night

BOOK
Cozy, Quaint Condo
  • Cute and great location.
  • 2-Bedrooms, 1- Bath
  • Dogs
  • ~$300/night

BOOK

Lux Hotels & Resorts

Deer Valley Resort offers a variety of options and styles, which range from condos and townhomes, to houses and simple, mountain style hotel rooms. Some properties are owned by individuals, but Deer Valley manages the rentals. One Empire Pass and Empire Residents are more “modern luxury” and The Lodges at Deer Valley and The Grand Lodge are the most “traditional, mountain hotel like.” We, and most of our guests, opted for multi-bedroom style condos at The Silver Baron Lodge for our wedding, and had a great experience. I won’t list pricing, because it changes with season so drastically, but during ski season, expect the lowest priced-options to start at a minimum of ~$500/night and increase quickly depending style, # of bedrooms, etc. The complimentary transportation, which is covered by your resort fee, service, and ski-in, ski-out convenience make Deer Valley a top option. Some accommodations are dog friendly. Prices, like all options listed, drop drastically in the summer.

When it comes to standard 5-star luxury resorts, there are three considerable options, all of which are in Deer Valley. The Montage, The Stein Eriksen, and The St. Regis. Of these three, The Stein Eriksen is my favorite, as it is less “corporate-y” and more quaint. The grounds have a German, log-cabin feel to them. The Montage and St. Regis are both dog friendly, The Stein is not. The Montage has, in my opinion, the best views, but the grounds feel large and are, in some ways, gaudy and overly traditional. The Montage is the most kid friendly, which is a pro or con depending on who you are; it is also furthest away from downtown Park City. For me, The St. Regis is a close second to The Stein, the views are nice and the grounds are a more subtle luxury than The Montage. In ski season, expect to pay top dollar for any of these options, but in the summer season, room rates reduce drastically (e.g., ~$250-$600 in summer months, depending on time, versus ~$1,000+ in ski season). All three have a few restaurants on site, the food is pretty good, as it should be for the cost, but I would call it expected . The restaurants boast world-class views.

There are two Auberge properties in the Park City area, and I favor both of them over the traditional 5-star resorts mentioned above, this is personal preference. Goldener Hirsch, a 4-star stay that is part of the Deer Valley Luxury collection, flashes the modern luxury that I want to feel if I’m paying a pretty penny for a bed. I have not had a chance to visit The Lodge at Blue Sky, located in Wasnip, just ~25 minutes outside of Park City, but of all the luxury properties listed thus far, it is the most costly, yet seems to offer the best, most curated experience. Prices do not change as drastically during seasons, i.e., rates are always ~$1,000. Blue Sky’s restaurant has rave reviews and the Chef is world-class… I’m itching to eat there. Blue Sky’s location will be more isolated. Both Auberge properties have pet friendly rooms.

Finally, if you’re looking for a boutique, unique experience, you should stay at The Washington School House. In my opinion, this option is the most appealing of all the “lux” spots listed and is the clear winner on the list. The 4-star property is beautifully done and located in downtown Park City. Prices are comparable to the 5-star options above and change based on seasonality. The property is much more intimate than the other options listed. Rooms are dog friendly.

BRUNCH 

Five5eed

This trendy joint is owned by an Aussie husband and wife duo and offers fresh options, including Açaí bowls, and creative takes on classics… the hotcakes are cooked in a cast iron skillet and are perfectly fluffy on the inside, yet crispy on the outside. The potatoes are a must, though everything on the menu is good. The atmosphere is “cool,” and the presentation is pretty. I’ve also been for lunch and enjoyed a fresh juice and avocado toast. AD’s Review: 4.6.

LUNCH & DINNER

Pretty Bird Park City

Pretty Bird is a highly hyped, though well deserved, fried chicken joint that originally started in downtown Salt Lake City (SLC). The Park City location is new. We got the medium spiced bird sando with all of the toppings. The chicken seasoning is terrific and the sandwich is very good. Points docked for fries (let’s get some FiveGuys action going on). AD’s Review: 4.45. 

Freshies Lobster

Freshies is great for lunch or dinner and won “World’s Best Lobster Roll” a few years ago for a reason. The joint has a laid-back, counter service atmosphere, yet the rolls are top notch. The lobster is fresh and they serve canned beers and wine. This is one of our can’t miss stops whenever we’re in Utah (SLC also has a location). I don’t think their salads are up to par compared to the rest of the menu. AD’s Review: 4.6.

DINNER

Handle

Handle offers seasonally curated, creative small and entree style plates that are perfect for family style dining. While all of the dishes are excellent, the Venison Rack and Mushroom Bolognese Bucatini were amongst the best dishes that we’ve had at a restaurant. The cocktails are also terrific. Prepare to spend here (e.g., $44 for fried chicken). AD’s Review: 4.5.

The Nelson Cottage, by High West

The Cottage provides an intimate, high-end, rustic-mountain environment. It’s turns traditional western fare into elevated, creative dishes during a ~7-course meal. Reservations must be made in advance and dining happens in two pre-set time slots, Wednesday through Sunday. Guests start on the patio with High West Whiskey Ciders and then move inside for pre-dinner Welcome Cocktails and Appetizers, followed by Dinner Service. Guests are served at the same time and staff gives passionate explanations of the food. AD’s Review: 4.55.

—

Dining at The Nelson Cottage was my favorite experience during our last Park City ski trip, because of the service and restaurant’s intimacy. While we opted for a tasty bottle of Nebula, we regret not doing the Whiskey pairings. Staff prides themselves on teaching guests that Whiskey can be paired with exquisite food just as wine is and next time we wish to fully immerse ourselves in the High West experience. For the price point, we thought that some dishes outshined others, though everything was, overall, high-quality and the experience was top-notch. 

Baan Thai Cuisine & Bar

Baan makes this list because it’s the perfect mix up between all of the heavy, (and pricy) mountain style meals. While all dishes are great, the Pad Thai is a can’t miss and the cocktails are light and refreshing. The atmosphere is fun and inviting. We’ve enjoyed Baan Thai many times. AD’s Review: 4.75.

**Park City also has many traditional style, steakhouse restaurants, which are all great (Riverhorse on Main is still one that we need to try).

DRINK & DO

High West Saloon

If it’s not already clear, we love the High West brand. So much so, that we’re had our Welcome Party at The Saloon for our wedding weekend. The Saloon is two doors down from The Nelson Cottage, and is the world’s only ski-in, ski-out distillery. The burgers are fantastic, the cocktails are delicious, and the atmosphere is true mountain Après.

Egyptian Theatre

The Egyptian Theatre provides an intimate atmosphere for guests to view live performances, including concerts, comedy shows, and theatre performances. We saw Del McCoury and had a blast. 

Main Street Art Gallery Walk

Park City is home to some world-class art galleries. If you start on one end of Main Street and work your way to the other, you can hit up spots including Summit Gallery, Montgomery Lee Fine Art, Park City Fine Art, Gallery Mar, and many more.

Just pick a gallery and start walking…

Notes on Skiing

As noted, on our last ski trip, we did not rent a car as the Park City winter shuttles run like clockwork. We skied at Park City Mountain, which overall was solid, but next time we will pay the extra money to ski at Deer Valley. Park City Mountain’s main “pros” include it’s family focus and slightly less expensive prices. However, Deer Valley is less crowded, has an older crowd, and doesn’t (sorry) allow snowboarders. The EPIC pass will cover Park City skiing. 

Park City Mountain
Deer Valley Resort