I remember my first winter in Park City when during the month of January we had 18 days of snow with bits of sunshine mixed in.  The skiing was off the hook but the getting around town and anything else that wasn’t riding lifts and descending through untracked powder was a chore at best.

For the next 10 years it seemed that each January when the Sundance Film Festival came to town it heralded in a wave of snow. For locals and skiers alike, it was magical, something we anticipated each year.  For festival goers it was a curse that made getting from film to film to party a struggle.

But it seems that the equation of Sundance = Snow is not in the cards this year. Mother Nature has had something else in mind: SUNdance = SUNshine.

When the sun comes out in the mountains, many parents like myself bring the kids to the slopes.  While some are celebrating the Sundance Film Festival, others are celebrating the warm weather.

The bottom-line is that it’s beautiful outside and whether or not Mother Nature has played favorites to the Film Fest, she’s definately playing favorites to Utah.

There’s still time to head out to Utah for the rest of the Film Festival and the sunshine we’re enjoying.  Who knows, you may bring the snow with you since Sundance hasn’t this year.

If you’ve just landed in Utah or are headed here this week, you might want to put this event on your calendar.  That is if you’ve got a sweet tooth.

This Saturday January 24, 2009 at Solitude Mountain Resort the 19th Annual Chocolate Lovers Tour will be landing.

There will be free chocolate treats from local companies like Cream O’Weber and Utah Truffles along with nationally known brands like C. Kay Cummings, Sweet’s Candy,  Bakers C & C.

One of the funnest things will be the six chocolate stations arouind the lower part of the mountain where you can get a passport (yes, a passport for chocolate) and you can win prizes by completing the tour of chocolates.

Don’t worry, there will be more than enough for everyone on the mountain. Bring your sweet tooth, tell your friends, but don’t tell the dentist.

–images courtesy of Jay Burke at Solitude Mountain Resort

With Sundance opening tomorrow and people itching to watch the films, I was over at the Sundance Film Festival website watching trailers of some of the movies including director interviews and insights that are quite interesting.

I wanted to embed some of the trailers here but they’ve shut down the sharing mode. Whether you’re planning on making it to the festival or not, check out the Sundance video section.  It makes a particularly good time killer if it’s a slow day at the office.

The Sundance Film Festvialis of course known for the films that premier here in Utah (namely Park City) each January.  What many people don’t know is that there is a thriving music scene that happens each year during Sundance called the Music Cafe.  It features emerging artists and bands and has been the launching pad for more than one artist in the past.

The Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival is in it’s 11th year. It’s held on lower Main Street in Park City from January 16-23. The doors open each day at 1:30 PM. Anyone over 21 with a Sundance credential is allowed entry but seating is limited.

I spoke with Park City TV’s weather woman Amy Anderson and she said that in the past few years that she’s been doing interviews at the Music Cafe she’s seen many artists go on to big record deals and appearances on late night shows like Leno and Letterman.

But after looking at the list of artists, I have to ask just how “emerging” are artists like the Gin Blossoms, John Rzeznik (Of the Goo Goo Dolls) and Wynonna are? They are all listed on the music line-up.

Ok, so it’s good music, but not so emerging.  Certainly worth checking out.

Sundance Film Festival Lodging

If you’re still looking for some lodging for the Sundance Film Festival, Utah Vacation Homes still has availability.  There are multiple homes, condos and other properties in Deer Valley as well as Park City proper.  Check out the availability page for a deal.

The skiing so far during 2009 has been fantastic.  We’ve had 3 good storms and this past weekend we received another 8-12″ of snow. 

Coverage at the resorts, particularly the Cottonwood Resorts of Alta, Snowbird, Solitde and Brighton is solid with nearly every run open and all lifts open.  Locals are saying it’s “mid-winter” coverage and skiing 100% of the mountain is possible at each resort.

Here is a picture from Alta from yesterday’s storm - just another bluebird powder day here in Utah.

Bluebird Powder at Alta - Few Things Can Compare

- image credit Alta Ski Resort

With the Sundance Film Festival starting up next week the lodging and especially Park City will be packed but the slopes will be wide open.

Utah Vacation Homes still has Sundance Film Festival lodging availability. It could be the best of both worlds - lots happening in town with mid-season coverage on the mountains but nobody to ski it.