Teresa DeWilde captures the pre-show runway

More than 100 women of all ages and social circles appeared at The Chateaux at Silver Lake Thursday night for a fashion-fueled fundraiser that honored some of Park City’s most extraordinary women. Amid the unique styles, which included final hoorahs by summer dresses and loud prints with daring heals, the sociable ladies who attended the Park City Women’s Business Network fall fundraiser ultimately had higher goals than appearances in mind, raising thousands in scholarships for college-bound Park City seniors by the end of the night.

Notable attendees included fashion photographer Teresa DeWilde, writer Stacy Dymalski and jewelry artist Rebekah Adams. Women (and some good-sporting men) enjoyed a spread of culinary fantasticness, including a cucumber-and-smoked-salmon bite of heaven, while bidding on spa packages, closet rebooting, marketing consultations and, of course, jewelry and couture. Armed with cocktails and the persuasion of friends, the women of Park City bid enthusiastically, with every item claimed and many bids equaling or surpassing the listed value.

Evening highlights included ShutterBooth snapshot photos, a professionally run fashion show (thanks to veteran Amy Tisovek), charming bartenders and a rare opportunity to see unique fashions at a Park City social affair. Show stealers included DeWilde,  Redhead Marketing & PR owner Hilary Reiter, socialite Sarah Baldwin and pcBWN President Lori Harris, all in creative takes on the classic LBD.

The evening culminated with the announcement of the pcWBN Woman of the Year, which went deservingly to Becky Kearns of Zions Resort Bank, who had received no less than eight nominations from other Park City women. The announcement prompted a standing ovation for Kearns, whose dynamic personality, generosity and vision has helped many small businesses succeed even in a difficult financial environment.

Eight women comprised the nominee panel, which included Colleen Burke of the Park City Chamber of Commerce, Robin Marrouche of the Kimball Art Center and Nicole Fielding of Dance Tech Studios. See a complete list of nominees, more updates and event photos on www.parkcitywomensbusinessnetwork.net.

“Girls Night Out,” coming this Thursday, Oct. 13 to The Chateaux in Silver Lake, will feature lines by Flight, Mary Jane’s and Farasha along side Jan’s Mountain Outfitters and Bjorn Stova. The common thread among participating boutiques, from trendy consignment shop Name Droppers to specialty boutique Purse Dreams, is enthusiasm for the “Girls Night Out” cause — scholarships for college-bound Park City High School seniors. Five winning applicants will receive scholarships of $2,800 each at the end of the year. ”Girls Night Out” will also raise funds through a live and silent auction.

Other fashion show participants include the Denin Bar, Chrome Hart, Apt. 202, Stafononva, FRESCH, Koo De Ker, CABI and BB’s.

A sneak peek at represented boutiques:

See fashions from all designers this Thursday at The Chateaux, 7815 Royal Street at Silver Lake Village. Cocktails, hor d’oeuvres and a silent auction begin at 6 p.m., with the fashion show and a live auction at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online through the Park City Women’s Business Network site and at the door.

Guests at the St. Regis by the signature Red, White and Snow accompaniment: wine

The National Ability Center’s biggest fundraiser of the year has become the “must-go” social function of spring, highlighting some of the world’s top chefs, vitners and skiers. Starting today, the three-day Red, White and Snow event will feature wine pairings, Vinter Dinners, ski challenges and big-ticket auction items, including a trip to Florida to witness the next space launch.

Today begins with a “Vintner’s Favorites” Library Wine Tasting at the St. Regis Deer Crest Resort, where an intimate group of Park City guests will enjoy an assortment of private library wines. Tomorrow, the Legends of Ski and Wine will put guests on the mountain with skiing celebrities, including past Olympians and local icons. The “Wine on the Mountain” afternoon soiree will highlight perfectly paired foods with Honig, Raymond Cellars, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Schweiger Vineyards and Terra Valentine. Socialites Nancy Algaier, Nancy Fitez, Sally Tauber and legendary journalist Bill Redeker are among the expected attendees. The popular vitner dinners, held in private luxury homes, will conclude Friday’s festivities.

All Park Citizens can (and should!) participate in the premier Red White and Snow event, the 22nd Annual Ability Ski Challenge, an entertaining ski race starring the Legends of Ski athletes and Ability Center host participants. The event will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Park City Mountain Resort. Later in the evening, a black tie finale (”black tie” optional, of course - this is Park City!) will take place at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, featuring a culinary masterpiece and live auction. Fine wines and unique adventures are among the coveted items.

Look for Nancy Algaier (second from right) at Wine on the Mountain on Friday.

Watch for updates, photos and coverage throughout the weekend!

by Teresa Chavez

Whenever people mention Sundance, they always mention swag. It’s as if you cannot have one, without the other. Nevertheless, Sundance Lounges are competitive entities and they are getting incredibly sophisticated. The Main Event Red Carpet Lounge@Green Suite, Presented by BRAVO is a great example of this. It is a palace of ingenuity, offering guests not only swag but thought provoking product experiences.

Their 3D Film Lounge allows guests to physically experience what’s on TV in high fidelity 3D. If you think that doesn’t sound intriguing, think again. After donning a very stylish pair of 3D glasses, you literally become part of the scene that you are watching. My experience included ashes floating out toward me from the set. I literally flinched, they were that real.
If you love video games, you would’ve felt like you had died and awakened in video game heaven. How about Avatar in 3D where you are the hero with the gun? Forget about becoming part of the scene, you ARE the scene. I must admit, it was surreal, not to mention addictive. That was just the beginning.

The next suite offered a product called POKEN that acts as a virtual business card. Pokens look like a pokemon on a key chain. You can choose from several personalities complete with their little bio. According to Wikipedia: “poken is a technology that utilizes a proprietary Near Field Communication technology to allow the exchange of online social networking data between two key chain accessories.”
In a nutshell, if your key chain creature and my key chain creature high five, we exchange data. I can go home plug in my poken and download all of your social networking information, making the search for some one’s business card, obsolete! Check it out for yourself at: info@shoppoken.com

Badcock apparel was on hand graciously gifting their provocative t-shirts. There were just too many to choose from! Sixty nine, in five different languages on five different t-shirts, was just too hard of a choice! Their stylish and edgy apparel could make one become very greedy, very quickly.

Another notable suite, was KIR jewelry, formerly Kirsten Moorhead jewelry, owned and operated by an all woman team based in Boulder, Colorado. Their jewelry are true pieces of art, offering intriguing designs with great integrity. The mother of pearl collection is exquisite. To learn more about KIR, go to: www.kircollection.com

If all of this stimulation makes you tired, you can replenish in the Shear Genius Salon and OPI Nail Spa, not to mention libations provided in the dance bar. This is just a small sampling of the wonderful experiences offered by the Main Event, Red Carpet Lounge@Green Suite. I am looking forward to next year’s brain stretching experience!

by DJ Liam

Under the cover of beautifully large Utah snow flakes I can only imagine how exciting the Banksy ‘covert mountain operation’ has become for all involved.  When seeing the first two pieces in and around Main Street Wednesday morning I was quickly informed that Banksy had been busy in Salt Lake City previous to this.  My assumption was that Banksy got off the plane and simply couldn’t resist the opportunities presented to him by the City of Salt Lake.  As a non judgmental, anthropological, recovering Catholic  living in Park City my hope was for some religious satire, and Bansky delivered!!!

Banksy’s documentary “Exit Through The Gift Shop” was a late entry to Sundance this year and premieres on Sunday at 8.30 p.m. and The Library Center on Park Avenue.

As far as defacing Park City and SLC, no one should deny us the cultural enrichment and social commentary we get from such a maverick.  The word from Cow’s Coffee Shop on Main Street is that they will keep the Banksy piece on the side of their building up for the duration of the festival.

An original Banksy outside the Java Cow on Main Street

DJ Liam hails from Northampton, England and has lived in Park City since 1999. He has worked with Paul Oakenfold, BT and Macy Gray, among others. He can be reached for last-minute DJ gigs at 435-640-6688.

Chefdance 2009

Friday, January 22

Skecher “Get Low”  with chef Kerry Simon

Saturday, January 23

Adrian Grenier Party with chef Beau MacMillan of the Food Network

Sunday, January 24

Charity Dinner for Boys and Girls Club of America chef Geno Bernardo from Palms, Las Vegas.

Geno Bernardo

Monday, January 25

“High School” with Chef Zane Holmquist from Steins

Tuesday, January 26

“Green night” with Chef John Murcko from Talisker

Dinner is $500 per person. Celebrity Poker Night for BGCA is $5000 for couple (one player and one spectator) and includes dinner for two at Chefdance before the Poker Event that night.

A taste of Chefdance

Park City socialite Nancy Nichols and Steve Ivan of Culinary Concepts at the St. Regis private opening

St. Regis Deer Crest, Park City’s first luxury ski-in, ski-out resort, opened its doors Tuesday evening in a private reception to prepare for the highly anticipated public opening November 25.

Park City’s créme de la créme attended the premiere event, including former Prudential owner Dougan Jones with guest Meredith Parsons, former community leader Myles Rademan and socialite Nancy Nichols, newly single from her break up with Malibu beau, the infamous “Billy Johnson”! Nichols’ lovely mother, Nancy Fitez, also attended.

Noteworthy locals included Steve Chin, Liz Fields, Stu Foster and Nancy Algaier, and Park City social  ‘it’ girl, Rachel Peterman, a key figure in helping St. Regis to its successful opening. Erin Egan, Hilary Reiter, Erika and Kyle Fetter, and Chloe Lane founder Michael Gribetz also enjoyed the dazzling event, along with Gribetz’s fashion buyer daughter, Megan.

Fresh from their own grand opening, High West Distillery’s Jane and David Perkins also made a special appearance, celebrating the sale of their spirits at St. Regis’ hotel and restaurants.

St. Regis General Manager Michael Hatzfeld appeared very happy with the turnout and overall appeal of hotel, a sentiment shared by several executives of St. Regis brand owner, Starwood Hotels. The opening of St. Regis has been a long time coming for everyone involved and promises to redefine the meaning of luxury for opulent ski enthusiasts. The five-star hotel, complete with 181 custom-designed guestrooms, 67 luxe suites and multiple townhouse residences, features flat-screen TV with theater surround sound, high-speed Internet access and European linens.

The restaurant offers equal luxury, with a five-star staff to match its hotel rating. Culinary Concepts by executive chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, an international star considered “one of the most celebrated chefs on the planet” by Food and Wine, leased all restaurant space while providing some of the biggest talent in the industry, including award-winning Chef du Cuisine Matthew Harris and New York project manager Steve Ivan.

Culinary Concepts also introduced some of St. Regis’ most distinct aestetic touches, including the St. Regis bar, mimicing the “King Cole Bar” at the St. Regis New York, the Terrace Cafe with outdoor fire garden, a library off the main loby serving tea, coffee and dessert. The St. Regis Wine Vault, which holds over 4,000 bottles, offers private lockers and tables for private events.

The St. Regis Deer Crest Resort is now open to the public. Deer Valley will open ski season with the Celebrity Ski Fest on December 4. No hints yet on which celebrities will make the St. Regis their temporary palace.

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High West Distillery officially opened its doors on Friday with all of the official pomp and circumstance. The long awaited opening was officiated by Mayor Dana Williams, on hand to help cut the ‘rope’.  Locals have been vying for a chance to witness the transformation of the former Livery Stable and  Watts residence to its current distillery condition. The building has been completely renovated and very handsomely designed depicting the flavor of Park City while paying tribute to its history. Several members of the Watts family attended, including Betty Watts, who exclaimed as she walked through the main room, “This room used to be my bedroom!”

The open house offered its most impressive spirits, the Rendevous Rye Whiskey, winner of the Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2008 and its mountain pure Vodka 7000′, as well as whiskey cider and vodka lemonade. Locals had the opportunity to enjoy the beverages at the Silly Market all summer long!  Brats and a swiss potato raclette complimented the drinks along with music provided by a live band.

The ‘tour de force’ of locals attended the event, including, Richard Sheinberg, Mike Florence, Robin and Jim Whitney, Beth Moon, Brian Richards, Sofia Miletti, Regis of Jean Louis Restaurant, Inn Owners, Bob and Carolyn Creek McCallister and the lovely Lynn Day, to name a few.

The building includes a gift shop replete with High West Distillery hats, t-shirts, and of course their featured spirits, in a handy two pack, or individually, perfect for gift giving. The High West Distillery’s offering of ‘fine artisan spirits’ is a unique and wonderful addition to our town. It offers locals and visitors alike, a new way to get warm this winter.  For more information check out their website at www.highwestdistillery.com or just drop in for a drink!

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The lighthearted affair at Temple Har Shalom promised no long speeches and an informal atmosphere, instead using entertaining skits and short words from key figures to urge support for the city’s only donation-based clinic. Long-time PHC volunteers Teri Moffit and Sarah Klingenstein returned as the “Duets,” expanding on last year’s performance in a pitch-perfect plea for funds, while Dr. Art Ulene, a well-known obstetrician and second homeowner in Park City, delivered a more sober address to others like him.

“This is not a financial issue, but a moral issue,” he said, noting the important role that uninsured service workers play in the lifestyles of people who enjoy Park City. “I would like to encourage other second homeowners to recognize the these important people and become involved.”

Ardent supporter Adam Bronfman, managing director of the Samuel Bronfman Family Foundation, also spoke with warm enthusiasm before issuing a $60,000 challenge grant. The charitable passion of Bronfman and his wife, Cindy, have helped ensured the clinic’s survival in recent years.

The People’s Health Clinic, an entirely volunteer-based community organization, logged over 5,000 patient visits last year for Park City’s uninsured. To support the PHC, visit www.peoplesheatlhclinic.org.

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Butcher’s Chop House and Bar graciously hosted the Children’s Miracle Network Silent Auction Fundraiser on Saturday afternoon. The annual event is the cause of choice for the Marriott Vacation Clubs employees and is spearheaded by General Manager Stephanie Johnston.

The theme for the event was “Give A Gift Of Hope” and that request was generously answered by local businesses. Several tables were covered with tempting items to bid on, from Deer Valley Resort, Amatsu Spa, and Lunatic Fringe to Jazz tickets, ski demo packages, and a great assortment of local restaurants.,Bill White Enterprises, Shabu, Prime Steak House, Mustang, and No Name Saloon to name a few! Marriott showed strong support offering irresistable Marriott packages all over North America, including Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, and Baton Rouge.

Butcher’s offered a delectable display of tidbits to nibble on and kept everyone hydrated throughout the event! Admission was free and it was a magnanimous way to spend a stormy afternoon in Park City. Be sure to mark it on your calendar for next year, it is an event you won’t want to miss!