A Walk Around The Park City

I have to admit: I was starstruck as I walked around the streets of Park City, Utah, even though, for the most part, the streets were pretty empty save for a few late diners and what appeared to be a sweet sixteen party. But how could I not be starstruck? This was home to the Sundance Film Festival. And I had just had dinner in Robert Redford’s restaurant.

And even though it felt just a little bit like being in Disneyland after hours when all the rides were closed, I still couldn’t help to imagine the streets that I was now walking on being filled with all manner of filmmakers, actors, and Hollywood elite. It was a dream of mine to be able to be here one day as a director premiering a new indie film. This was only fueling my fire.

But because no one was around, it did give me a chance to walk a little more freely and check out some of the main street area of this quiet little mountain town. It’s like many others I have visited – there is a western ruggedness to the aesthetic, and a lot of the local shops were devoted to art that reflected the spirit of the snow and hills that surrounded this place. There was also a lot of Native American influence, with many shops offering native art and jewelry.

Park City was also home to some of the events from the 2002 Winter Olympics, and we got to visit the Olympic Torch.

But the Hollywood influence was also hard to ignore, with many theaters and high-scale shops present as well. It almost seemed like a town built specifically as an escape for the rich – a chance for the upper class to head into nature.

Either way, I really enjoyed myself there, and I hope to visit again someday. Only next time, I want to be one of those people who are attending Sundance.