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Cultural corner

      The Mountain Dew Ice Village, at 550 W. 100 South (behind Club Axis, west of the Gateway Center) has been a hot spot during the Olympic Games.
      The Village has definitely made a name for itself with its nine-story ski and snowboard big-air quarterpipe and more than 150,000 square feet of interactive entertainment — including Sony Playstation 2s that cover the floor, five big-screen projection TVs, a food court and a stage that has featured Cheap Trick, the Roots and George Clinton & Parliament during the past week.
      "We wanted to fill a void for those who love the sports but couldn't afford the tickets," said Brian O'Neal, who, with Stephen Justesen and Brent Kocher, brought the Ice Village to reality. "There was this area that was just a bunch of empty warehouses and open space. So, we worked with the city, got the right permits and began building."
      "The city was very easy to work with," said Justesen, a former owner of the Orbit Cafe. "It's amazing how much has happened in one month. And I'd like to see if we could keep it open after the games are over."
      The Mountain Dew Ice Village is open 2-8 p.m. daily. Admission is $10. Concert admission prices after 8 p.m. range from $15-$32, depending on who's headlining. An all-day chill pass, which includes up to a $2 discount, is available at the door. Tonight's concert is Modest Mouse.

      OUT AND ABOUT: Perhaps tired of being chased by media around town, Canadian figure-skating pair Jamie Sale and David Pelletier wowed a group of West Valley City business people by unexpectedly dropping in at a luncheon at West Valley City Hall on Thursday. Chamber President Alan Anderson said the Canadian pairs team did not discuss the then-pending Olympic judging controversy, but both shared stories about how they began figure-skating as children. They also praised West Valley residents for "acting like Canadians."

• Thursday evening, while the Sheryl Crow concert was in full force at the Olympic Medals Plaza, hot-drink vendors near the Crossroads Mall were heard shouting, "For sale: hot chocolate, hot coffee, hockey tickets for tomorrow!"

• A special advance screening of the 20th anniversary edition of Steven Spielberg's 1982 hit "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Abravanel Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (12 and younger) but latest word is that the event is sold out. You can check for yourself by calling 1-888-451-2787 or 355-ARTS.