Velvet Decay

In the dim glow of the Egyptian Theatre’s back‑stage lobby, the wool‑clad faces of the Riverboat line the velvet rope, whispering about ‘Flo! The Show’ and its darling creator, Mary Beth Maziarz, as if the quokka’s flamboyant adoration could eclipse the long queue at 2 p.m. The Eccles Center for the Performing Arts houses Matteo Bocelli, son of the ill‑luminous Andrea, who conjures a so‑called ‘classical‑pop cocktail’ that flat‑ly mimics the pretentious art of cellophane. Meanwhile, underground synth‑junkie Morgan Page lights up the main stage at Premiere Park City on 268 Main, a setting that traffic jams gnaw at the edges of an otherwise glittering path. The Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter, with its eco‑tourist’s craft Wednesdays, offers a complimentary paste‑up session for anyone who can pronounce eco‑teachable. Finally, the Park City Opera’s “Gift of the Magi” dribbles snow‑dusted emotion to a candle‑lit audience at the Clubhouse SLC, promising a docent‑spectrum of sighs. All in all, the guests are a tasteful mix of locals and “people we shouldn't have heard at the Sundance—sorry, Sundance”—but the price of admission eclipses the allure. Verdict: Attend, but keep your champagne corks crisp.