Latest news with #RobertRedford
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Knicks' ticking clock won't stop for Leon Rose's massive decision
At the end of the classic movie 'The Candidate,' Bill McKay, a young politician played by Robert Redford, has just been elected to the Senate, and he is being swallowed up by supporters and media folks at his hotel when he spots his campaign manager, Marvin Lucas (the late, and always great, Peter Boyle). They duck into a service elevator, and then a room, momentarily shut off from the madding crowd. The two have spent much of the movie figuring out how to get elected, and spent precious little time figuring out what they'll do if they actually get elected. Advertisement 'Marvin,' McKay says as the crowd finds the room and begins to pour in. And drowned out by the rancor the senator-elect offers one of the great closing lines in any movie ever: 'What do we do now?' For those of us who've long held the opinion that the Knicks would be foolish to fire Tom Thibodeau, we've had similar conversations with the loud voices of rebuttal on that matter the past few months. And much like a political conversation between two dug-in members of opposing aisles, these back-and-forths never end with a settlement.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Major changes coming at this small Utah ski resort with a big name
As the Sundance Film Festival bolts Utah, Sundance Mountain Resort — both named after Robert Redford's character in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' — unveiled its most ambitious expansion plans in decades. And one of the projects has a nod to another Redford movie, 'The Electric Horseman.' For 50 years, Redford owned the resort nestled on the backside of Mount Timpanogos in Provo Canyon that caters to mostly local skiers and snowboarders. In 2020, he sold the 2,600-acre ski area to Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners. Relying on rustic charm for years amid bigger and snowier destination resorts like Park City and Deer Valley, Sundance has somewhat resisted modernization and expanding its terrain. But that's changing. Sundance Resort president and general manager Chad Linebaugh told The Storm that the new investment will help Sundance 'capture our fair share of the destination market, while staying very committed to our local market. This is going to change the way people see Sundance in more ways than one.' The centerpiece of the plan is a new high-speed quad lift on the backside of the mountain to be constructed over the next two years. Dubbed the Electric Horseman Express, the lift will open 105 acres of skiing and snowboarding with a six-minute ride ascending 1,850 vertical feet. It's scheduled to open for the 2026-27 season. For the 2025-26 season, Sundance plans to open 60 acres of new terrain on the Far East ridge, with nine new trails, including a mix of tree runs, challenging chutes and two intermediate runs and 360-degree views from Utah Valley to Heber Valley and three mountain lakes. Sundance has six lifts, including one high-speed quad. Electric Horseman will be its seventh and make the entire mountain accessible via high-speed lift, according to the resort. Sundance officials hope the new lift and terrain will make the resort an alternative to bigger and busier Utah ski areas. 'People are getting disenfranchised with the high volume, and there's definitely a quest and a search right now for the type of experience that Sundance is delivering,' Sundance's chief operating officer, Czar Johnson, told The Storm. 'So we think by making ourselves a little bit more attractive on paper and based on stats, we can draw in people who are done with that high-volume experience and are still looking for a high-quality experience, with interesting dynamic terrain and good infrastructure and fast-moving lifts, but on a scaled-down version of what they're seeing in those other areas.' Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners have invested more than $40 million at the resort since acquiring it five years ago, officials say. In January, Sundance opened the Mountain Camp Day Lodge at the base of Jake's Lift in the upper parking lot, which also has 200 new parking spaces. The lodge includes ticketing, rentals, ski school, retail and ski patrol along with the Mountain Camp Cafe. Last year, Sundance started construction of a 63-room hotel at the resort base. It's scheduled to open next winter. 'I think one of the ongoing charms of Sundance is that beyond this, nothing else is going to be developed up in this canyon,' Johnson said, per The Storm. 'Sundance is going to very much remain looking like it is today, and you can't say that about so many ski areas, and that's going to become even more special as time goes on.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: Salt Lake County mayor gives her take on why the Sundance is departing Utah for Colorado
To the editor: Los Angeles and the Hollywood community overall will soon feel the effects of the Sundance Film Festival's decision to move to Boulder, Colo. In the past few weeks, a number of storylines have emerged, placing blame anywhere from politics to finances, but it's way more nuanced ("Of course Sundance is fleeing. Utah has become a hateful place," April 4). As one of the original founding staff members of the Sundance Film Festival, I know exactly where and how this story began. Sundance was born, not just as a film festival, but as a cultural force grounded in place. Robert Redford didn't choose Utah because it was easy or obvious. He chose it because it was different. Because the power of Sundance was never just about the films — it was about the space it created for independent voices to emerge in a setting that challenged, inspired and transformed. The real story is this: Sundance is facing financial headwinds, brought on by a shifting independent film industry and revenue losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new leadership team, instead of working with Utah's public and private partners to rebuild a stronger future, chose to walk away. As the current mayor of Salt Lake County, I proposed a summit — at the Sundance Resort itself — where we could meet as partners and determine how to evolve the festival, given the changing landscape. A gathering of local leaders, creative voices, and community partners, in a place built for dialogue and reflection. That offer was never accepted. Additionally, financial offers from Salt Lake County and the state of Utah were also serious and substantial; proposed to increase funding, offer infrastructure and provided a clear path forward. It still wasn't enough. Let's be honest about what happened here: The current Sundance leadership didn't want to solve problems. They wanted to move on from them. Instead of working within a community that stood by the festival through decades of growth, they opted for a clean break — and used politics as the convenient excuse. But politics are not the real story. If they were, Redford would never have planted his vision in Utah to begin with. A progressive himself, Redford understood that impact happens when you speak truth in hard places — not when you run from them. He used his platform to protect public lands, elevate marginalized voices, and push for change. Sundance became powerful because it operated in a place where that power meant something. As a Democratic mayor in a conservative state, I don't shy away from Utah's challenges. I face them every day. But I also know that the presence of Sundance here made a real difference. It opened doors for underrepresented communities. It gave audiences access to new ideas and new perspectives. It planted seeds for change where it was needed most. This is a loss for Utah. But it's also a loss for Sundance. This exit leaves behind the environment that gave it its identity, but more importantly the people and the principles that gave it meaning. Sundance forgot its roots, the community that built it and the essence of what made it great in the first place; independent voices aren't just needed in comfortable places — they're needed in the places where they can actually make a difference. Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake City The writer is the mayor of Salt Lake County. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Salt Lake County mayor gives her take on why the Sundance is departing Utah for Colorado
To the editor: Los Angeles and the Hollywood community overall will soon feel the effects of the Sundance Film Festival's decision to move to Boulder, Colo. In the past few weeks, a number of storylines have emerged, placing blame anywhere from politics to finances, but it's way more nuanced ('Of course Sundance is fleeing. Utah has become a hateful place,' April 4). As one of the original founding staff members of the Sundance Film Festival, I know exactly where and how this story began. Sundance was born, not just as a film festival, but as a cultural force grounded in place. Robert Redford didn't choose Utah because it was easy or obvious. He chose it because it was different. Because the power of Sundance was never just about the films — it was about the space it created for independent voices to emerge in a setting that challenged, inspired and transformed. The real story is this: Sundance is facing financial headwinds, brought on by a shifting independent film industry and revenue losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new leadership team, instead of working with Utah's public and private partners to rebuild a stronger future, chose to walk away. As the current mayor of Salt Lake County, I proposed a summit — at the Sundance Resort itself — where we could meet as partners and determine how to evolve the festival, given the changing landscape. A gathering of local leaders, creative voices, and community partners, in a place built for dialogue and reflection. That offer was never accepted. Additionally, financial offers from Salt Lake County and the state of Utah were also serious and substantial; proposed to increase funding, offer infrastructure and provided a clear path forward. It still wasn't enough. Let's be honest about what happened here: The current Sundance leadership didn't want to solve problems. They wanted to move on from them. Instead of working within a community that stood by the festival through decades of growth, they opted for a clean break — and used politics as the convenient excuse. But politics are not the real story. If they were, Redford would never have planted his vision in Utah to begin with. A progressive himself, Redford understood that impact happens when you speak truth in hard places — not when you run from them. He used his platform to protect public lands, elevate marginalized voices, and push for change. Sundance became powerful because it operated in a place where that power meant something. As a Democratic mayor in a conservative state, I don't shy away from Utah's challenges. I face them every day. But I also know that the presence of Sundance here made a real difference. It opened doors for underrepresented communities. It gave audiences access to new ideas and new perspectives. It planted seeds for change where it was needed most. This is a loss for Utah. But it's also a loss for Sundance. This exit leaves behind the environment that gave it its identity, but more importantly the people and the principles that gave it meaning. Sundance forgot its roots, the community that built it and the essence of what made it great in the first place; independent voices aren't just needed in comfortable places — they're needed in the places where they can actually make a difference. Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake City The writer is the mayor of Salt Lake County.
Forbes
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
10 Fun Facts About Boulder, Colorado—Sundance Film Festival's New Home
Boulder, Colorado will host Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027. It's official: Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder, Colorado in 2027 after its more than four-decade residency in Park City, Utah where actor and director Robert Redford launched the internationally renowned festival. Boulder beat out other bidding cities including Cincinnati and Salt Lake City to become the host destination for the festival that's intentionally held outside of Hollywood in an effort to promote independent and up-and-coming filmmakers. So, why Boulder? BOULDER, CO - MARCH 27 : Gov. Jared Polis celebrated Sundance Film Festival is coming to Colorado with the crowd at Boulder Theatre in Boulder, Colorado on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Boulder wins Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027, beating out Utah and Ohio. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) 'Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town, and college town,' Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO said in a statement. 'It is a place where the festival can build and flourish.' Indeed, Boulder—a college town with a population of about 100,000—is a one-of-a-kind destination, nestled against the foothills and about 35 to 40 minutes from Denver. It's technically not a mountain town like Park City, but rather is located where the plains and the Rocky Mountains meet. I'm a Colorado-based travel writer, University of Colorado alumni and I spent more than a decade working as a reporter for the Daily Camera, Boulder's newspaper. Ahead, I'm sharing some interesting facts about Boulder that you might find fascinating, should you visit this Colorado city for Sundance film screenings or simply to sample some of its famed outdoor recreation. As it turns out, Sundance founder Robert Redford has a unique connection to Boulder. The Sink, an iconic burger and pizza spot on the 'Hill' across from the University of Colorado, claims that its most famous employee ever was Robert Redford, who worked at the restaurant as a janitor in 1955 while attending college. President Barack Obama visits the Sink in Boulder on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Joe Amon, The Denver Post (Photo By AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images) The Sink, which celebrated its 100th year in business in 2023, also played host to President Barack Obama in April 2012 ahead of his talk at the university. The president ordered the 'Sinkza' pizza with pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, black olives and onion, a menu item the restaurant renamed P.O.T.U.S. pie after his visit. Obama also signed his name on the graffiti-covered walls. His John Hancock is right next to the signature of Guy Fieri, who visited the Boulder restaurant for an episode of 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.' Aerial photo above Boulder, Colorado. Today, Boulder is an idyllic college town and the University of Colorado is central to the city's identity. Beautiful buildings on CU's campus are built with red sandstone that was quarried in nearby Lyons. Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is the head coach of the CU Buffs football team, which draws energetic crowds for Saturday football games. CU also hosts the Conference on World Affairs, a spring event that's like the Olympics for the mind that brings in thought leaders from around the world for panel discussions open to the public. But Boulder could have been much different had things gone in the opposite direction in the late 1870s. Citizens in Boulder lobbied the state legislature for a university, and they were competing with Cañon City for the flagship school. The consolation prize for the losing bidder would have been a new Colorado State Prison. I learned this just recently during a visit to the Museum of Boulder where an interactive display imagines what the city would look like had key decisions tipped another way. On the screen, it showed CU's earthy red tile roofs that define the aerial portrait of Boulder juxtaposed with would-be barbed-wire fences and concrete buildings scattered among the foothills should the city have elected to be home to a prison. Today, Cañon City in Southern Colorado is home to the Colorado State Penitentiary and other jails, as well as the Museum of Colorado Prisons. Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder is one of Colorado's six Michelin-starred restaurants. The Michelin Guide came to Colorado in 2023 and the state now has a half-dozen Michelin one-star restaurants, including Frasca in Boulder, a fine dining concept focused on cuisine of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy. Boulder is also home to Basta, a contemporary Italian-American restaurant that received a Bib Gourmand status, an honor given to restaurants with great food at moderate price points. Michelin-recommended restaurants in Boulder include: Stella's Cucina, Bramble & Hare, Blackbelly Market, Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, Oak at Fourteenth, Zoe Ma Ma and Santo. Blackbelly Market and Bramble & Hare also received green stars, which recognizes restaurants that are leaders in sustainability. Pro tip: You can enjoy fine dining Mexican in Denver at the city's newest Michelin-starred restaurant Alma Fonda Fina, which is award-winning Chef Johnny Curiel's solo restaurant debut and an ode to his home country of Mexico. But Curiel also has a fantastic restaurant in Boulder that's easier to snag a reservation at: Cozobi Fonda Fina, which is rooted in Mexico's centuries-old corn nixtamalization traditions and wood-fire cooking techniques. circa 1979: American comedian and actor Robin Williams, wearing a woman's bathrobe, furry hat, and sunglasses, being hugged by American actor Pam Dawber, in a still from the television series, 'Mork and Mindy'. (Photo by) The Queen Anne exterior of the 'Mork and Mindy' house is located in Boulder, a few blocks off the Pearl Street Mall, and is now a private residence. The television show, which ran from 1978 to 1982, featured Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial who arrived in Boulder from a planet called Ork. Many references to Boulder are made in the show's 90 episodes. Mindy—Mork's wife—for instance was a student at the University of Colorado. Boulder's Chautauqua Meadow is also featured in the show. Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter in his space suit at Cape Canaveral before his trip into space. In the background is a radar antenna tower. Scott Carpenter, who was one of NASA's first seven astronauts known as 'the Mercury Seven,' was born in Boulder on May 1, 1925. Carpenter, who was the second American to orbit the Earth, earned his bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Colorado. Visitors will spot references to Carpenter throughout town, like the Scott Carpenter Park that has a rocket ship play structure and the pool named after the late astronaut. Boulder, Colorado, USA-October 23, 2023: Hotel Boulderado on 13th Street in historic downtown Boulder, Colorado. Hotel Boulderado opened its doors with a Gala Ball on New Year's Eve in 1908. The historic hotel, which is a City of Boulder landmark and a member of the Historic Hotels in America, named itself Boulderado, a portmanteau of Boulder and Colorado, so that no one ever forgot where they stayed. Boulder, Colorado, USA - October 18, 2015: A street performer juggles balls to an audience on Pearl Street. A fun way to spend a summer evening in Boulder is by strolling the Pearl Street Mall and enjoying the street performers. These performers on the outdoor mall put on acts that range from juggling fire on a unicycle to magic tricks and playing musical instruments. Bring some cash; they're all working for tips. Ezekial Rast, a junior at the University of Colorado puts toppings on his sandwich at the Alferd Packer Grill in the University Memorial Center on the CU Boulder Campus on Wednesday March 17, 2010.(Photo by Paul Aiken/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images) The Alferd Packer Restaurant and Grill bears the name of an infamous cannibal who came to Breckenridge looking to strike it rich during the gold rush and accused of cannibalism during the winter of 1873-1874 after an ill-fated expedition. Students named the dining spot after the cannibal (with a slightly different spelling from Alfred Packer) back in 1968 with the quip 'have a friend for lunch.' The name has stuck ever since. Caption: Cover photo: A worker watches boxes of tea go by on conveyor belts at Celestial Seasonings' production floor. Marty Caivano/Daily Camera(Photo by Marty Caivano/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images) Well-known tea maker Celestial Seasonings is located in Boulder—you'll find it off of Sleepytime Drive. The company got its start in 1969 when Mo Siegel, one of its founders, handpicked wild herbs in the Rocky Mountains and used his foraged finds to make the first tea. Visitors today can go on a $6 tour of the tea factory. The Boulder Flatirons pictured in the winter. If Boulder had an official postcard, it'd likely be of its famed Flatirons that jut out into the blue skies. There are five Flatirons that run on a slope of Green Mountain and they're collectively referred to as 'The Flatirons.' They got their name from a pioneer woman who said they rocks look like flat, metal irons used to iron clothes, according to the city's tourism officials. The third Flatiron is particularly striking: At 1,400 feet, it's a few hundred feet higher than the Empire State Building. Trails starting at the Chautauqua Trailhead get you up close to the Flatirons.
