Shoppers, remember to pencil in a northern jaunt to Farmington for the one and only Piper & Chloe Holiday Showcase tomorrow and Saturday. There’ll be something for nearly everyone on your list (but we daresay your lady friends will appreciate it most).  The Piper & Chloe crew sweat the small stuff so you don’t have to: They’ve hand-picked a handful (or ten) of local vendors so you’ll get the best of the best. Modern meets hip handmade with throw pillows, stationery, tea towels, jewelry, and more.

{Shop Hop}

Piper & Chloe: A Holiday Showcase
46 Robyn Way (1195 North)
Farmington, Utah (map)

Friday, November 6, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 10 .m. – 5 p.m.
www.piperandchloe.blogspot.com

It’s official. November is in the house. This year, do what you always swear you’re going to do and get the shopping done early. Like, this weekend-early. And while you’re at it, get yours with some one-of-a-kind, artistic flair.

We know just the place. Just fifteen minutes north of Salt Lake City, a Farmington home gets a mod makeover when the Piper & Chloe Holiday Showcase takes center stage. The ladies behind this holiday shopping extravaganza hand-pick vendors and stress over the details to give you the ultimate “home shopping” experience. Expect to see cool jewelry, striped bibs for the babe, homemade potions, hand-sewn throws, and a whole lotta other cute stuff.

It’s true what they say about those early birds.

{Shop To It}

Piper & Chloe: A Holiday Showcase
46 Robyn Way (1195 North)
Farmington, Utah (map)

Friday, November 6, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 10 .m. – 5 p.m.
www.piperandchloe.blogspot.com

Writing and photography by Elisa Scharton

Driving along scenic Highway 89 in Fruit Heights, Utah, passersby may (or may not) notice a sign announcing “Rock Loft, next right.” Naturally, you might assume that the Rock Loft is a store that sells rocks. And unless rocks are items that pique your interest, you’re likely to drive on. However, failure to make that turn would only result in your missing out on a hidden local treasure.

The Rock Loft a delightful group of shops nestled into the side of the mountains of Fruit Heights, Utah. In previous lives, this enclave on Old Mountain Road (which once connected Weber County to Salt Lake City pre-HWY 89 or I-15), housed a gas station, a dance hall—even a cherry warehouse. Nowadays, it’s home to artworks at the Canyon Gallery; delightful knicknacks at Secret Haven; designer clothing at the Hidden Closet; and, my favorite, the Bun Basket.

The Bun Basket is family-owned and operated. Upon entering, you might feel as though you stepped into Grandma’s country cabin—complete with her oversize kitchen table. A bakery and sandwich shop, the menu includes loaded ‘wiches of all kinds stacked on homemade bread. Perhaps best-known for its baked goods, you can stop by the Bun Basket for a standard cinnamon bun, but don’t miss out on the blueberry and raspberry varieties. You’ll want seconds … even thirds.

Like any trip to Grandma’s, guests never feel rushed at the Bun Basket. You’re allowed to slow down, enjoy homebaked goods, and talk with friends. But unlike Grandma’s, you won’t feel too guilty when you leave. Unless you had one too many blueberry cinnamon buns.

{Nice Buns}

The Rock Loft & Bun Basket
281 S. Mountain Road
Fruit Heights, Utah
(801) 593-9756
Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

It’s not every day you’d find us making the jaunt from Salt Lake to Ogden to sample the local fare. But when the crew from three-month-old Sonora Grill gave us the challenge, we happily obliged … after perusing the menu, of course.

Sonora Grill is an authentic Mexican restaurant shacking up in Ogden that aims to put a contemporary twist on old-time favorites like chilaquiles and doraditos. (Yes, it’s true there’s more to the south-of-the-border menu than just burritos and tacos.)

For starters, Sonora Grill is all about the starters. Begin with an agua fresca—-a perfect-for-summer drink that blends exotic fruit juices like grapefruit and ginger. Ours was guava lemonade and we could have downed five. Then try a healthy portion of guacamole mixed right before your eyes, and any number of three salsas to dip your chips in: red from smoked morita chiles, green from tomatillos, or habanero for the very brave. The tomatillo salsa was some of the best we’ve laid tastebuds on.

The same goes for the ceviche—which we like to think of as the Mexican version of sushi, and couldn’t get enough of. We got a trio sampler (a good deal at $15.95) and opted for the ahi tuna (thinly-sliced tuna in ginger-lime and habanero chile sauces); coconut scallops (whole bay scallops in coconut milk and lime); and a chef’s special: marlin with cucumbers and pickled poblano peppers.

You could stop there: just head to the Grill for really good drinks, fresh guacamole, savory salsas, and awesome ceviche for a quick bite with friends. But you should try more. The menu was drawn up on a trip to Mexico and the executive chef has an impressive resume, after all. And if that wasn’t enough, the presentation alone is worth seeing.

We took it easy with a taco sampler (one coconut shrimp, one salmon, one carne asada and one al pastor.) We then moved on to the chilaquiles with grilled chicken, which consists of tortillas, Mexican cheeses, tomatillo salsa, and chayote-jicama salad. Both got an “Aaaamen.”

But you could also try the grilled corn on the cob or fresh fruit salsa. Obviously, we can’t say enough so you’ll have to try it for yourself. Start with the agua fresca and a glance through the menu. We’ll be headed back to this Ogden eatery, with our families in-tow, eager to show off this latest discovery.

{Hot From the Grill}

Sonora Grill
2310 S. Kiesel Avenue
Ogden, Utah
(801) 393-1999
Open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
www.thesonoragrill.com

{Doorprize!} Sonora Grill isn’t going to wait for you to show them some love. They’re beating you to it by gifting one oh-so-lucky YHO reader with a $50 gift card. So, what are you waiting for? Leave a comment already, and you’ll be the one gushing over the savory ceviche.

Leave just one comment before 10 p.m. on Friday, July 11. Muchas gracias, Sonora Grill!

Assignment: City’s Best Snowcone
Stop No. 3: Pace’s Dairy Ann
Location: 1180 S. 500 West, Woods Cross

Madame, P.I. Reports:

I headed up north to Woods Cross to check out Pace’s Dairy Ann. It’s an old-timey hamburger joint with loads of fun treats. Not to be deterred by the abundant menu, I stayed focused and went straight for the kill: the Rainbow. With a slush-like consistency, power-packed flavor (I tried peach—the same peach that made Pace’s popsicles famous) and a swirl of soft-serve to boot, it’s easy to see why this frosty delight warms hearts over with ease.

True, it’s not your classic snowcone. Hence the “sort of.” But seriously, what’s not to love about a truly tasty alternative? (Or a place with “Dairy Ann” in the name?) Especially this time of year, when it’s slim-pickings for us snowcone lovers. Pace’s is open year-round.

Read the entire story here.

Remember that adorable shop Meg Ryan’s character owns and operates in “You’ve Got Mail?” (Also, remember the popularity of her haircut?) The Shop Around the Corner, as we think it was called, reeked with charm: the wooden floors, the bookshelves, the selection of cute reads … and then-cute haircuts.

We think we found Utah’s Shop Around the Corner. It’s not exactly around the corner as we ventured north to Bountiful in order to check it out, but you definitely feel at home when you’re there. It’s a warm and neighborly place full of fashionable and functional doodads and knicknacks.

All Tucked In carries a little bit of everything, which makes it ideal for gift shopping. Somewhat simultaneously, you can browse a handful of European shoes for ladies, scan jewelry from local designers, spy gorgeous satin ruffled dresses for little gals, shop for popular children’s games, find a cute frock for you, and thumb through lots and lots of books for the kiddos in your life—you’ll even get recommendations from resident experts.

Cute clothes for the likes of us came from lines like Free People and Hazel. We also spied the cutest pair of brown leather boots by Jeffrey Campbell on sale … but you had better hurry, there were only two pairs left!

{Cozy Up}

All Tucked In
115 S. Main Street
Bountiful, Utah
(801) 298-7262
www.alltuckedin.net