Park City’s beautiful man factor rose a little this weekend as Dallas Cowboys super-quarterback Tony Romo stopped in for a weekend with buddies. Romo connects with hometown pals a few times a year and seems to have a thing for Park City, having visited Deer Valley just six months ago with ex-girlfriend Jessica Simpson. He hit Main Street sans girl Friday night, enjoying dinner at Shabu before heading to Downstairs for a Skullcandy presentation of Ivy League. The uber-athlete’s presence hardly went unnoticed in the intimate venue, although Park City patrons let him enjoy a low-key night.

Tony Romo is spending more and more time in Park City.

Neva Barker of the Red Cross (middle) with April Morrison (left) and Rachel Sharwell (right)

Park City residents flooded The Sidecar Thursday night in an overwhelming show of support for earthquake victims in Haiti.

Park City LOCALS founder April Morrison, Hilary Reiter of Redhead Marketing & PR and Rachel Sharwell donated their time in producing the fundraiser, while Sidecar manager Steven Maxwell donated 50 percent of pizza sales from the night. More than 100 people supported the cause, raising $1,000 for the Red Cross in door donations alone. The Motherlode Canyon band, featuring mayor Dana Williams, headlined the evening, while up-and-coming Salt Lake artist Kole offered one of the night’s greatest highlights with original ballads and a refreshingly quick humor. (In one poignant story, she described her recovery from narcotics addiction, pointing to a tattoo on her wrist which read, “risen from the ashes.” She told the audience, ”I tried telling my mom it was a permanent CTR ring, but she didn’t like that.”) Her warm presence put the crowd at ease and set a vibe of generosity for the night.

Notable attendees included city councilwoman Cindy Matsumoto with her family, long-time local Mark Blue, Sidecar founder Mike Wong and socialite Beth Moon, who nearly single-handedly promoted the silent auction’s success. Nancy Nichols and Rachel Peterman livened the scene, along with Park City Soccer Club’s Bob Martin, Mountain Town Music’s Sofia Miletti and Jupiter Bowl chef Jason Brumm. Utah Red Cross director Neva Barker also attended, thanking the crowd for their generosity to a country that has suffered 200,000 deaths, with a million left homeless in light of the earthquake.

A number of tourists added some interesting donations propositions throughout the evening, including one gentleman who offered hundreds for a Mardi Gras-style flash, and another who put $2,000 on the table for a lap dance. Each were lightheartedly rejected, although both men dished cash to the cause anyway.

Anyone who missed the soiree can still support the Red Cross’ efforts in Haiti with a donation at www.utahredcross.org.

Thanks to all who came out!

Lyrics Born publicity photo

by Michael Quinlan, Official Park City Voyeur

Last Thursday night at the Star Bar, San Francisco based hip hop act Lyrics Born, played to a less than packed house. With many locals still nursing a post Sundance hang over, and almost no advertising for the show, those who went were treated to plenty of space and a freestyle flow that only LB can provide.

Born Tom Shimura, the 38 year old Lyrics Born looks like a happy, hip hop Buddha on stage. The only thing that seemed to mover faster than his rhymes was his finger, as it waggled back and forth to the slick beats layed down by DJ Icewater. LB was not accompanied by his normal back up band or wife, amazing vocalist, Joyo Velarde.

Instead, rounding out the sound was Constance Lopez, a woman of presence, who seemed to be singing as if possessed. In a good way! Her voice carried some serious gravity. The trio treated the few hundred guests to all of LB’s hits including: Don’t Change, Hello, Differences, and Callin Out. Offering a number of shout outs to the quote “Hardworking Scrumptious Ladies” LB kept the crowd amped up. Three things I never knew about LB, He does a dead on impersonation of Chali2Na, he lived in SLC, and he likes to make fun of people with PBR tall boys.

Lyrics Born opened the encore with One Session and I’m Just Raw, before bringing the invested drunk crowd to a ruckus, with the bad ass track, Bad Dreams. There was a song, perhaps two after that, but who can remember what happens so deep into a Thursday night triple encore? Too many red stripes were consumed. Ummmm, Beer good, LYRICS BORN GREAT!

The Spur celebrated what would have been Bob Marley’s 65th birthday Saturday night with one of the world’s most celebrated reggae figures, Pato Banton. The bar enjoyed one of the biggest local crowds Main Street has seen this winter, drawing Park City’s herb-loving youth, fir-clad ladies and a number of mature tourists. Some didn’t realize who they’d come to see, asking “Is Bob Marley playing tonight?” The less informed received special acknowledgement as Pato introduced one of Marley’s more famous songs, “Legalize Marijuana.”

“I know some of you may not always listen to reggae music,” he noted. “But even for the most conservative among you, I ask you to open your mind.”

The sensimilla-smoking legend’s lighthearted banter proved one of the night’s more entertaining highlights.

A Burmingham, England native whose Jamaican patois nickname, Pato, means “wise,” Banton played a lengthy set of Marley’s most inspiring songs,  backed by a quintet of talented musicians. Much of the crowd rushed the stage in an arm-waving, singing, jiving mass of Marley Mania, while the spacious bar allowed several others to enjoy the scene with a little more elbow room. Local celebrities included Jean Louis Montecot, Randy Barton, Junior Richards, Bob Martin and prominent Chicago energy mogul, David Witz, in town visiting family.

Jamaican reggae enthusiast Alex Campbell, who produced the show with support from Mountain Town Music, helped organize last summer’s Park City Reggae Festival. He plans to continue “bringing the love” to Park City.

Pato Banton: \”I Do Not Sniff the Coke\”

Dave Navarro & Tuesdae at Downstairs

Dave Navarro’s intimate Sundance soiree began with an unexpected jolt — though surprisingly not from the Jane’s Addiction pop icon himself. The musical energy from opening DJ Mia Moretti and violinist Caitlin Moe carried out the Downstairs club Monday night and onto Park City’s Main Street, luring curious party seekers to the lounge with hopes of seeing the act live. Inside, the blonde bombshells captivated the club for over an hour, even silencing Navarro himself, who listened intently before snapping a picture of the gals with his cell phone.

When his turn came to wow the audience, Navarro treated the crowd to an acoustic set of hard rock covers sung by Tuesdae, lead diva of the Chelsea Girls. The two clearly had fun performing in the intimate venue, filling their set with lighthearted banter and mid-song calls for shots.

Moretti and Moe returned to Downstairs Wednesday night for an encore performance ahead of DJ Bentley and Del the Funkee Homosapien. As word spread of the talented blondes after their Sundance debut, the audience nearly doubled for their second performance, packing Downstairs shoulder-to-shoulder early in the night. Del later charmed the crowd with his old school hip hop, keeping the Sundance party spirit alive into the second half of Festival madness. Read more about Del here: http://parkcityvoyeur.com/nightlife/music-lounge/

by Teresa Chavez, Official Park City Voyeur

The first Saturday of Sundance is typically the best, and this Saturday did not disappoint. Chefdance kicked off my night with the culinary magic of Chef Beau MacMillan (of SANCTUARY). He prepared an exquisite dining experience, replete with celebrities, including Mr. Entourage himself, Adrian Grenier, who, despite his fame, was a very gracious and accommodating movie star to the fans attending Chefdance.  Chef Beaumont’s 4 course menu of Roasted Island Creek Oysters, Honey 5 Spice glazed Kurobuta Pork, Venison Loin with Razz Cherry Garlic Jam, and  Banana Caramel Panna Cotta served as the perfect base of energy for the full nightlife schedule ahead.

First stop was Harry O’s, headlining the immortal Rock Queen, Joan Jett. The line was long and filled with hardcore fans trying to be patient while waiting to go inside. They were not disappointed!

Next up was Downstairs with Lil John and a surprise visit by actor Danny Trejo. To read more about this show go to http://parkcityvoyeur.com/locals/gossip

All of this provided a great warm up for the best show I’ve witnessed thus far, the timeless classic Chali2NA. Formerly of Jurassic 5, one of the old school hip hop groups. The man’s talent was endless, electrifying the crowd for over two full hours. Sylvester Stallone’s very handsome son, is apparently a huge 2NA fan, he actually  tried to butt in front of us in line! Not even Sly himself would have been able to carry that off….2NA is just too good to miss! To read the full article go to: parkcityvoyeur.com/nightlife/voyeurism

Onto the Bing Lounge, sweaty and disheveled from the 2NA show, we were feeling a bit out of place. Bill Gates was hosting a private party for 250 of his closest friends. John Legend and the Roots, performed an intimate concert for the incredibly lucky guests! Small concerts like this are the empitomy of what Sundance is really all about..EXPERIENCE. Some good, some bad, but all very real and on so may levels, very necessary. Of course, that includes trying to find a cab at 2AM on Main Street with the rest of the world, a very humbling and freezing cold experience but well worth the evening!

Victoria Secret Model Kylie Bisutti

The Stanfield Artist Lounge has emerged as the Sudance afterhours hot spot, hosting a full 10-night series of parties featuring of the country’s top DJs, celebrities and models.

The late-night soirees will fuse art and music with special celebrity appearances nightly as Stanfield unveils original paintings of Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, Brandon Boyd of Incubus and Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo.

Talent Will Include : DJ PROPHECY, MOISE BENTLY, THEE MIKE B, PITTSBURGH SLIM, DJ COBRA, Victoria Secret Model KYLIE BISUTTI, DJ TATIANA FONTES, DEAN COLEMAN, DJ FASHEN, RICKY ROCKS, DJ SCOOTER, DJ WHITE SHADOW and special guest DJ’s TBA

For VIP Table Reservations, please contact Dustin at 801.414.0245 or Dustin@3Four.net

Downstairs headlined the Park City party scene Saturday night, drawing a wall-to-wall crowd after the World Cup Freestyle event in Deer Valley. The intimate Lower Main club filled to capacity shortly after the World Cup Mogul Finals, drawing freestyle enthusiasts and world-class athletes alike, including Olympic aerial skier Jeret “Speedy” Peterson and elite mogul racer, Nate “Natedog” Roberts. Miss DJ Lux kept the music flowing and the spirit light, while the crowd found plenty of room to dance even in the blissfully packed madness.

Among notable attendees was socialite Nancy Nichols, who livened the VIP scene with her “force de blonde.” PR maven Kristi Slice made a return from the West Coast, while Park City publishing goddess Kristen Langelier flew in from Dallas. Mary Jane’s founder Lori Harris also made an appearance, along with French personality Jean-Louis Montecot and sushi chef Zach Stofferahn — a regular at the A-List club. Downstairs, which is partially owned by actor/DJ Danny Masterson, will host a series of the most coveted acts during Sundance, to be announced tomorrow.

The Scene From Outside

Nate Roberts

Two of the most promising (and ridiculously good-looking) athletes to make the 2010 Winter Olympic team will host a World Cup after-party at Downstairs following the Deer Valley Freestyle competition this Saturday. World Cup moguls champion Nate Roberts, a favorite for the podium in Vancouver,  will appear at Downstairs with Olympic aerial skier Jeret “Speedy” Peterson, a bronze medalist at the Salt Lake City Olympics now going after gold.

DJ Lux

Miss DJ Lux will headline the sound with resident opener DJ Bentley in a world-class bash to celebrate two of freestyle skiing’s best athletes. NYC entertainment photographer Teresa DeWilde is rumored to attend, along with more surprise guest athletes. To reserve a VIP booth for the event, e-mail vip@downstairspc.com. The party is cover-free to ladies.