Features and Occasionals

Happy LOCAL Holidays

By Staff

We invite you to support CATALYST this holiday season by patronizing the businesses that support us — they are who allow us to keep publishing! And, because they are all local establishments, we all win: If you spend $100 at a national retailer, only $13.60 will stay in Utah’s economy*. If you spend it at a locally owned business, $55.30 or more stays here, creating jobs and building our community.

First things first: Remember, Local First! Local First Utah is a non-profit open to all Utah businesses that are at least 51% locally owned and make their business decisions independently. Today that includes more than 2,700 locally owned and independent businesses across Utah. Support your locals.
LocalFirst.org

Blue Boutique, making sexy socially acceptable in Salt Lake City since 1987. Offers lingerie, corsets, body jewelry and sexy gifts & toys. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
1383 E. 2100 S. 1051 S 300 W BlueBoutique.com

Healing Mountain Crystals: You’ll find lots of gifts under $20 in this shop affiliated with Healing Mountain Massage School: crystals and crystal jewelry, soaps, lotions, essential oils, singing bowls and more.
363 S. 500 E., #210. HealingMountainCrystals.com

Lotus has everything from Angels to Zen. So many tools of the metaphysical trade can be found here: gemstones, crystals, feng shui, books, jewelry, local art, unique handmade items and many other treasures that make you feel good.
12896 S. Pony Express Road, #200, Draper. ILoveLotus.com

Turiya’s is a sweet neighborhood treasure shop offering gifts with spirit for the past 20 years. Owner Kristen Dalzen is also an internationally known Reiki Master teacher. Sign up for a session with her, an intuitive reading or a Goddess class.
1596 S. 1100 E. 801.661.3896. Turiyas.com

Dancing Cranes. This is a great place to get pleasantly lost. Jewelry, clothing, incense, ethnic art, pottery, candles, windchimes, special events and more! Special Winter Solstice Celebration Sat., Dec. 19.
673 E. Simpson Ave. DancingCranesImports.com

Golden Braid Books and Oasis Cafe. Golden Braid Books is the grandmother of existing “new age” bookstores, that has morphed into a broadminded gallery of much-needed information on all manner of progressive lifestyles. A true sanctuary for conscious living in the city, the store offers gifts and books for feeding the mind, body, spirit, soul and heart. (And when you’re done shopping, pop into Oasis Cafe for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a treat.)
151 S. 500 E. GoldenBraidBooks.com, OasisCafeSLC.com

White Elephant Exchange Store & Boutique offers fashion forward clothing, services and a place where customers and friends can share, exchange, treasure hunt and create. Always keeping fashion, quality, community and customer service their highest priority.
1305 S. 900 E. WhiteElephantBoutiqueSLC.com

Phillips Gallery is the place we always head to first on Gallery Stroll nights. (It’s Dec. 4 this month.) Dedicated to a growing awareness in the visual arts of our community, they offer beautiful gallery fare, traditional to contemporary. Check out their high-quality art supplies department for the existing or wanna-be artists on your list. Maybe a special framing, appraisal, restoration, installation or lighting consultation would cheer a special someone.
444 E. 200 S. Phillips-Gallery.com

Finch Lane Gallery 32nd Annual Craft Market December 4-20. As you’d expect from an art gallery, the finds at this market are topnotch—and surprisingly affordable, too! Ceramics, jewelry, textiles, body products, journals, decorations, clothing and artwork from more than 70 local artists.
54 Finch Lane (1340 E. 100 S.). 10-7 M-F; 11-5 S&S. SaltLakeArts.org/Program/Finch-Lane-Galleries

9th West People’s Market. This year the Holiday Market will be Dec. 5 and 12. Note change of address from last year: Now at the Sorenson Unity Center (SE corner of 900 West and California Ave.)
SLCPeoplesMarket.org

Dogs and cats for $25, December only! Best Friends works with animal rescue groups, city shelters and passionate individuals who are all dedicated to the mission of making Utah a no-kill state. Best Friends hosts adoption and fundraising events throughout the year. (We’ve adopted fabulous four-legged friends from them—thank you!) Some of their pets are eligible for the Seniors for Seniors program, where if you’re over 55, and the dog or cat is over five years old, there is no fee.
2005 S. 1100 E. Utah.BestFriends.org

Urban Food Connections of Utah. You know these folks as bringers of the Down­town Alliance Farmers Markets (summer at Pio­neer Park, winter at the Rio Grande Depot). These, along with a future public market, are now a separate nonprofit under the auspices of the Downtown Alliance. This new arrangement allows them to take a more regional focus and expand their education program.
Almost everyone can get behind edible presents. Beyond produce, you’ll find cultured butter, fresh-squeezed cider, fancy jams, tonics and bitters, salsas, breads, Middle Eastern specialties…. This month you’ll also find a small art & craft market.
December 5 & 19, 10a-2p. Rio Grand Depot Farmers Market, 300 S. Rio Grande St. UrbanFoodConnections.org

A special shout-out to Scott Evans, CATALYST’s former wine writer (and, many years earlier, author of our annual Vegetarian Dining Guides). Evans opened Pago in 2009. To the best of our knowledge, it was SLC’s first “farm-to-table” restaurant—a place where the provenance of each item is known, from harvest to presentation.
The concept is the rage, now, and that’s good. But just know that Pago was cool when “locavore” was barely a word. And its ever-changing menu still reflects the best seasonal ingredients found from local providers. (Evans’ culinary empire also now includes Finca, Hub & Spoke and East Liberty Tap House. Gift cards are available for all establishments, in person, by phone or online.)
PagoSLC.com, 878 S. 900 E.
HubandSpokeDiner.com, 1291 S 1100 E
FincaSLC.com, 327 W 200 S
EastLibertyTapHouse.com, 850 E 900 S

Healing Mountain Massage School: This respected 17-year-old school of massage, founded by Randy Montgomery who still runs the show, is again offering Spa packages. Healing Mountain’s student massage clinic and professional day spa offers bodywork and spa treatments with both student practitioners and Licensed Massage Therapists in a calm, relaxing setting. Pamper someone— starting at just $22. Massage, facials, scrubs, body wraps and more.
HealingMountain.org, 363 S. 500 E., #210

Jennifer Rouse. Our friend Jen Rouse gives an amazing massage. We love to melt into her table and let the cares of the world dissolve under her capable hands and beautiful spirit. Mention her CATALYST ad for an extra 15 minutes free.
jenrouse99@gmail.com

Psychotherapist Machiel Klerk has accomplished a miracle over the past seven years with the wildly popular Jung Society of Utah and its mostly monthly events. Mystic and poet Andrew Harvey is the Society’s 2016 guest for their big annual February fundraiser gathering at Libby Gardner Hall. (Previous guests were David Whyte and Coleman Barks.) Wow her (or him) with a ticket to “Sacred Marriage: The Vision,” followed by a full-day workshop by the same title. Don’t wait; these events always sell out.
JungUtah.com, 801.656.8806

Natural Joy. “Natural beauty” doesn’t mean you can’t get a little help from cosmetics. Natural Joy owner Joy Wicks has been researching bodycare products for 10 years and knows what’s good for you. She offers affordably priced products devoid of “greenwashing” that meet her strict ingredient criteria. You’ll find gifts such as aromatherapeutics, soy candles —and surely you know someone who could use organic beard oil! Undecided? Buy gift certificates online or at the store.
1100 W 7800 S, West Jordan (Gardner Village). NaturalJoyBeauty.com

Take a break from the seasonal busyness with a visit to Mindful Yoga Collective’s First Sunday meditation (December 6, 2015 and January 3, 2016) with Charlotte Bell and Marlena Lambert.
The informal gathering is for experienced and novice meditators alike. You’ll listen to a talk from a leading mindfulness teacher—Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron, Sharon Salzberg—to help clarify intent and deepen understanding of mindfulness practice.
The class is free, but optional donations are accepted to help pay for the space. No need to register in advance. All are welcome.
223 S. 700 E., #4. MindfulYogaCollective.com

The State Room is going off this month. The 300-person-capacity live music venue presents nationally acclaimed musicians and the finest local acts. When you need a good right-brain activity this month, head here for The English Beat, Utah Blues Society Member Appreciate Party, Hot Buttered Rum and so many more tasty events. (Do remember your ID, please.)
638 S. State St. TheStateRoom.com

Inner Light Center invites you to a winter solstice concert and candle lighting ceremony on December 21 and also a New Year’s Eve releasing ceremony. Bless and release old energy and welcome your heart’s desires for 2016. This mystical, metaphysical community is dedicated to enlightenment and personal empowerment through spiritual practice, education, service, worship and fellowship.
Solstice, Dec. 21, 7pm. Releasing Ceremony, Dec. 31, noon. 4408 S. 500 E. TheInnerLightCenter.org

Join Urgyen Samten Ling Gonpa Tibetan Buddhist Temple for their annual New Year’s Eve Puja. Here’s another opportunity to let go of obstacles, obscurations and negativies of the past year, and mindfully establish positive motivation and clear intentions for the new year. Participants will be asked to write down what they would like to let go of from the past. These slips of paper will be burned, with the fire transforming the negativities. All are welcome to attend.
Thursday, Dec. 31, 10pm-Friday, Jan. 1, 1am. 740 S. 300 W. www.urgyensamtenling.org

* based on the Civic Economics Utah Study series; visit www.LocalFirst.org for details

This article was originally published on December 1, 2015.