Interactive Map
THE BLOCKS is excited to release a new Interactive Map on our website! The map features three layers of information that can be used to find public art and murals; venues, museums, galleries and cultural landmarks; and coffee shops, restaurants and bars. We think this map will help you to plan any visit and explore what THE BLOCKS has to offer. As Salt Lake’s Cultural Core grows and evolves, so will the map, always keeping you in the know!
There is so much to discover in THE BLOCKS. Here are just a couple of our favorite ways to experience Salt Lake’s Cultural Core…
Date Night
Indulge your five senses by taking in one of the many performances presented at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center from one their amazing resident companies – Plan-B Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury, PYGmailion Productions, Gina Bachauer, RDT, and SB Dance.
You don’t need to venture far to enjoy some delicious and local food options. Treat yourself to a scrumptious meal at Valter’s or Zest Kitchen & Bar; grab a bite at Squatters, Settebello, or RedRock; or have a drink at Lake Effect, Gracie’s or BTG Wine Bar.
A Quick Stroll
Only have an hour or two? That is the perfect amount of time to hit Gallery Stroll, which happens on the third Friday of every month (1st Friday in December). Various galleries and museums downtown open their doors from 6 – 9 PM for artist receptions, artist talks, live music and lots of new visual art from our creative community. That is the perfect amount of time to hit these galleries and grab a cup of coffee or a beer! Here is a suggested route:
Start at Modern West Fine Art, a gallery with a modern vision specializing in western contemporary art. FICE Gallery, a premiere sneaker and street wear boutique and gallery, is only a hop, skip and jump across the street, featuring both local and international contemporary and street artwork. In addition to a small concentration of galleries and iconic murals, great food is only a few steps away.
Beer Bar, is a great place to peruse a wide variety of imported and domestic brews and enjoy a quick bite. But, if you don’t have time to sit and eat, grab pizza by the slice at Este across the street. Now it’s been almost an hour but you have a few minutes left. Head east out of Este and head toward 200 E. Between FICE and Gallenson’s is one of Salt Lake’s most well known murals surrounded by a plethora of other street art. Didn’t think you could do so much in an hour, did you?!
Mural Tour & a Cup of Joe
So you have all day to spend in THE BLOCKS (lucky you), but where do you start? If it’s a nice day and you feel like walking, why not take yourself on a mural tour! THE BLOCKS is chock full of public art and hidden murals; we’ve mapped them out for you and now it’s time for you to start crossing these locations off your map.
Pick a starting point and start exploring! You could begin with brunch at Spitz and enjoy their bright atmosphere and lighter Mediterranean fare. Check out the Broadway Mural right across the street on your way out or as you eat. For a more traditional brunch, eat locally-sourced, American fare at The Copper Onion. From there, pick a direction and follow the map to find all of the treasures on our streets! On your way from one piece to the next, be sure to stop into a few galleries, maybe even grab lunch at your favorite restaurant and admire the beauty of THE BLOCKS.
Now it’s the evening and you’re ready to have a seat for a while. If you’re near Main Street, see what’s playing at The Off Broadway Theatre, an intimate auditorium that puts on comedy shows, improv nights & Broadway-style musicals. After the show, Main Street is a great place to experience Salt Lake’s nightlife, with a concentration of night life–like Alibi, White Horse and Quarters, between 300 S. and 400 S.