Sixth & Pine

I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting places to eat in Salt Lake City. With the addition of the City Creek Center, several new restaurants have dotted the downtown area, offering a new array of fare to sample. One might not instinctively think of heading just past the Gucci room of Nordstrom for a delicious meal, but I'm here to tell you they should. With all the charm and ambience of a classic, upscale American Diner, Sixth & Pine provide a delicious lunch sampling of appetizers, sandwiches, soups and daily specials including prime rib. Located on the second floor of Nordstrom, the dining room provides delightful views of the LDS Assembly Hall at Temple Square. The chicken salad was the best sandwich I've had in weeks and the french dip was to die for. As for the perfect accompaniment, try the sweet potato fries with the cilantro dipping sauce or the appetizer of panko encrusted onion rings. In addition to the great food, the wait staff was also incredibly attentive, quickly filling drinks, and checking back frequently. Coming in at just around $17 per person, this is a the perfect place for an upscale meal that won't break the bank.

Sixth & Pine | 55 S. West Temple | Mon.-Sat. 10am - 9pm | Menu | Open Table

Moonrise Kingdom

I'll admit that I'm a little behind that times. I just barely made time to the the new(isn) Wes Anderson movie, Moonrise Kingdom. If previous movies were any indication of the future, I was certainly expecting a bizarre, but understatedly hilarious film. What I wasn't expecting was a touching film. This is both.

In addition to a great core story, Moonrise Kingdom is filled with an all-star cast of highly decorated actors, including Academy Award-winners Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, Academy Award-nominess Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Harvey Keitel as well as Jason Schwartzman and Bruce Willis in one of his best roles ever.  The story revolves around a pair of misfit lovestruck adolescents - A khaki scout Sam, played by Jared Gilman, and his friend Suzy, played by Kara Hayward. When the orphaned Sam goes missing with Suzy on a small New England island, his scoutmaster (Norton) and local police officer (Willis) go in search or the pair, aided by the the scouts and Suzy's parents (McDormand and Murray). With each second two make their way through the island, I found myself more endeared to them, even when I nearly rolling on the floor in the laughter. Willis's portrayal of the somewhat inept Captain Sharp was an absolutely brilliant mix of vulnerability and caring that made his character one of the most realistic of the Film.

It certainly came as no shock to me that this film has received a 94 rating at Rotten Tomatoes. It is my unabashed recommendation that you see this movie while it's still in theaters.

Moonrise Kingdom | Directed by Wes Anderson | 1:33 | Showtimes