City Weekly Best of Utah 2021

Best of Utah 2021: Arts & Culture

25 reader-voted winners in arts & culture, from the City Weekly Best of Utah 2021 poll.

Ask Ave: What won Best of Utah 2021 for Arts & Culture

• Best Colorful MartiniHolystone Distilling

  Murray's Holystone Distilling is as sleek as it is smooth—each bottle is masterfully crafted and distilled in house. One of their staples, the Cerulea Gin, is lavender-colored and leaves…

• Best Dance ClubTwist Bar & Bistro

  Yes, it's a dance club, especially on Thirsty Thursdays with DJ Mvdness, Friday Nights with DJ Dirty Dave & DJ Myze, and Saturday nights with DJ Dirty Dave & DJ Marcell Mesquita. And the… — Runners-up: Why Kiki, Echo

• Best Dance CompanyBallet West

  It was weird for a Christmas season to go by without live performances of Ballet West's Nutcracker, but the company showed its commitment to the community by arranging to broadcast a… — Runners-up: Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co., Repertory Dance Theatre

• Best Friend of the ArtsUtah Arts Alliance

  Even if you aren't familiar with the name "Utah Arts Alliance," you've likely benefitted from all of the programming and support for artists provided by Derek Dyer and his great team. From… — Runners-up: Eccles Foundation, Gail Miller

• Best GalleryUrban Arts Gallery

  Every gallery has its own unique personality, but Urban Arts Gallery feels like the kind of place that appeals to everyone, even those who don't think of themselves as "art gallery people."… — Runners-up: A Gallery, Phillips Gallery

• Best Intro to Utah ComediansWiseguys' Lake City Showcase

  Wiseguys comedy clubs have long been a premier destination to see some of the best-known touring comedians in the world, but it's also where a lot of local comedians can get their start at…

• Best Local PodcastCold

  The KSL-branded Cold podcast was an instant sensation in 2018 when host Dave Cawley took a deep dive into the Susan Powell case. They returned strong in 2021 with another fascinating tale… — Runners-up: Geek Show, I Am Salt Lake

• Best Media UpstartBuilding Salt Lake

  As legacy media organizations shriveled under declining revenue, they doubled-down—tripled-down? quadrupled-down?—on the three pillars of local news: politics, sports and weather. That…

• Best Movie TheaterBrewvies Cinema Pub

  For more than a year, the beloved local tradition of enjoying a beer and a movie at Brewvies was denied to us. But the regulars streamed back once the venues in Salt Lake City and Ogden… — Runners-up: Broadway Centre Cinemas, The Tower

• Best MuralistJosh Scheuerman

  If you drive anywhere through the streets of Salt Lake City, you've almost certainly seen the vibrant work created by Josh Scheuerman on Utah walls. His work has honored individuals on a… — Runners-up: Shae Petersen, Joseph Toney

• Best MuseumNatural History

  Museum of Utah The architectural jewel that is the Natural History Museum of Utah holds 10 permanent exhibits showcasing the state's gems, minerals, dinosaurs, flora, fauna, Native cultures… — Runners-up: Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Utah Museum of Fine Art

• Best New TheaterSLFS Studio Backlot Motor Cinema

  When COVID-19 shut down virtually all businesses, and particularly arts and entertainment venues, fans of the big-screen film experience were able to find a social-distancing friendly…

• Best Podcast for History BuffsDemolished

  Salt Lake Making its debut in 2021, Demolished Salt Lake episodes provide a fascinating glimpse into life in Utah's yesteryears. From historic homes to hospitals, penitentiaries and brew…

• Best Radio ShowRadio From Hell, X96

  Whether they're together in the studio or collaborating remotely from home studios, the X96 morning radio team of Kerry Jackson, Bill Allred and Gina Barberi continue to be a haven of… — Runners-up: RadioACTive, KRCL 90.9 FM, Frankie and Jess, 97.1 ZHT

• Best Radio StationKRCL 90.9FM

  There will always be the big media players, but KRCL 90.9 FM proves that the community loves the little guy. This listener-supported community radio station has that edge that keeps you… — Runners-up: X96, KUER 90.1FM

• Best Spirited PartiesThe Westerner

  Nobody parties like the Westerner. In any month at this sprawling club in West Valley City, you can let loose your inner party animal at such parties as this years' White Claw Ball, Burger…

• Best Street ArtSouth Salt Lake Mural Festival

  Want to appreciate art from the comfort of your car? South Salt Lake's Creative Industries Zone is home to the largest collection of street art in Utah. 2021 artists included: Bill Louis…

• Best Street CartNamed Breakfast

  Beehive Breakfast Downtown dwellers should rejoice at the existence of Beehive Breakfast. The perfect casual weekend bite-grab and the remedy to running-out-the-door mornings, this brekky…

• Best Tattoo ArtistJesse Payne

  This artist calls Aloha Salt Lake Tattoos his home base, and despite his fame, you can often walk in and get in his chair without an appointment. Whether you're looking to create a sleeve… — Runners-up: Luke Jensen, Aloha Tattoos, Josh Pitchford, Golden Cage Tattoo

• Best Theater CompanySalt Lake

  Acting Co. You were missed, SLAC! The Salt Lake Acting Co. was back in the saddle performing to live audience this past summer with a new and improved musical parody, #SLACabaret. In the… — Runners-up: Pioneer Theatre Co., Hale Centre Theatre, Sandy

• Best TV AnchorMary Nickles

  Who doesn't love Mary Nickles, the weekday co-anchor of KUTV's 2News This Morning and 2News at Noon? Nickles embodies the grace and stamina many female anchors lack. Her public journey with… — Runners-up: Mark Koebel, KUTV2, Kerri Cronk, FOX 13

• Best TV ReporterBen Winslow

  Fox 13's Ben Winslow is the top dog, that is unless you're a lawmaker on the Hill hassling him on Twitter. Earning his cred as a radio, then newspaper reporter, Winslow is the one to follow… — Runners-up: Alex Cabrero, KSL 5, Chris Jones, KUTV 2News

• Best TV StationKSL 5

  There's something about the known and comfortable. On the air since 1949, you can't argue with history and its family-oriented programming. The NBC-affiliate is owned by Bonneville… — Runners-up: Fox 13, KUTV 2

• Best Utah Arts CommunityHelper, Utah

  Our favorite Utah destination is an old mining town less than two hours from Salt Lake. Thirty years ago, David Johnson, Tom Williams, David Dornan and Marilou Kundmueller started the art…

• Best Visual ArtistCat Palmer

  We offer the disclaimer that Cat Palmer contributed editorial content for this issue, but considering the number of times she's won reader awards in our Best of Utah or Arts issues, we… — Runners-up: Hannah Lofgreen, Andrew Alba