City Weekly September 5, 2024

BURIED TREASURES

BY

M’LISA DALL

S AP

BOX

“In the Hive,” Aug. 29 Private Eye

Look at you pretending that in those areas where Democrats rule—and whenever they have the House and Senate—that Democrats do not just ride roughshod over conservatives.

I believe it went like this: “elections have consequences, you tried your ideas and they lost in the arena of public debate and so if we can bypass you we will.”

Silence is the result and secret meetings behind closed doors aimed at defeating any conservative attempt to have a say. So welcome to the same game.

If everything is not what the voters want, then these officials who made the rule changes will be easily voted out and you should be happy for it.

But if it is exactly what the electorate wants, then it is part of the rules of the game and you are just going to be left with a meaningless scream into the empty abyss we call the minority view.

Instead of attacking the majority, take ownership of the political impotence of making an appealing argument for the life you want to impose on that majority. We don’t want it.

I can’t say it any more clearly to you than that.

Read all the debates, pro and con, on each conservative issue, without framing the right’s positions as simple minded, indoctrinated, etc—name calling. And that is what we want and what we will get by any legal means.

If it means we change the rules … yes that’s what we do. Like saying we hate the Supreme Court so let’s change the filibus-

ter rules and then change the Constitution to allow term limits for Supreme Court Justices and maybe even add more justices if we win the election.

How is this different to you?

So scream away, but do know that we view it as nothing but an impotent scream into the abyss of minority politics.

Have fun.

KELLY MACFALANE Ogden

If you have something to say, say it. I was really hoping to make sense of this nonsensical article, but it was too passive to understand.

This article left me more confused than the birds and the bees talk I never received—even as someone from the nonsupermajority.

ERINCOSMANO Via Instagram

Right out of the fascist playbook.

GLUEMAN0 Via Instagram

“The Utah Draw,” Aug. 29 Music

I liked the article, but I always thought the best song about Utah was “Salt Lake City” by Bob Weir, ex-Grateful Dead.

“Salt Lake City, where it’s so easy keeping straight. Salt Lake City, really makes Des Moines look second rate.”

I saw him perform here once and the crowd loved it.

Keep up the great work.

GERRY SATTERLEE Millcreek

“Major Leage,” Aug. 29 Cover Story

Thank you for featuring us!

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SALT LAKE CITY Via Facebook

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THE WATER COOLER

Does the back-to-school time of year elicit fond memories or physical anxiety?

Benjamin Wood

Fall is my favorite season and now that I’m a parent, back-to-school means order to the chaos of a child’s schedule. Back to school is also mountain bike season. All I hear is the Bonneville Shoreline calling my name.

Bryan Bale

I’d never want to go back to high school, but college wasn’t so bad. I’d go back to the U of U if I could afford it.

Krista Maggard

School starting always caused me physical anxiety, but my birthday would typically land on the first few days of school so that made it worse. I did love shopping for school though—even just getting supplies was always exciting!

Emilee Atkinson

Fond memories for me. Maybe I’m a nerd but the beginning of the school year always felt like a new adventure! Then a few months in it became a slog haha

Kelly Boyce

Anxiety. What if everyone thinks my trapper keeper looks lame?!

Bill Frost

As a college dropout with no student debt—pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty fond memories

BY JOHN RASMUSON

OPINION Hat Tricks

“(The preacher) invited the audience to remove their hats and turned his voice to God. ‘Lord, help us to make America great again,’ he prayed.”—McKay Coppins, The Atlantic

The proliferation of red “Make America Great Again” or “MAGA” hats has me thinking how hat-wearing has evolved in this Baby Boomer’s lifetime. In the 1960s, I think the only guys wearing baseball hats were standing on a baseball diamond or eating C-rations in a foxhole.

Although my father always wore a brown or gray fedora, I grew up hatless. I don’t remember owning a hat until I was drafted.

The Vietnam-era Army issued all recruits an olivegreen baseball hat known as a “hot weather utility cap.” It took some time to get used to wearing it.

The baseball hat has since become an all-weather fashion accessory for men and women. Barbie debuted a pink baseball hat in 1959, and 1970s trucker culture was celebrated with foam baseball hats, CB radio chatter and such movies as Smokey and the Bandit.

In the 1990s, Gangsta rappers wore hats askew as an expression of hip-hop chic. Nowadays, a backwards hat raises no eyebrows, not even on Wimbledon’s center court. A New York Times fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, asserts that the baseball cap has become so ubiquitous that a British milliner has called it “the tiara of America.”

Donald Trump’s cultish MAGA movement has had the effect of granting permission to wear a baseball hat with a business suit or dress. The Trump Store calls the red MAGA hat a “bold wardrobe statement like no other,” but

as with morphing pronouns, aging Boomers like me are foot-dragging adopters. Another impediment is the legacy of soldiering.

Soldiers are issued a variety of hats, caps, berets and helmets. Some are formal; some utilitarian.

A few rules apply to all. Wearing a hat indoors is forbidden. The only exception is if you are “under arms” by virtue of carrying a weapon. If you have a rifle, your hat stays on; otherwise, it comes off.

All these years later, the Army’s hat etiquette stirs disapprovingly in my subconscious whenever I see a guy wearing a hat in a restaurant or theater. I also recoil from vulgar hats. Even “SL,UT” and “Shit Happens” put me off. However, a surprising number of people push the boundaries of good taste.

There are a lot of folks who wear their hearts on their sleeves. But more people than you’d expect wear their spleens on their hats, as the MAGA tribe tends to do. At least men can spruce up Trump’s splenetic brand of politics by wearing a red baseball hat with pinstripes, a telltale pairing.

I believe each of us is a walking hat trick—a composite of who we are, who we think we are, and who others think we are—so a hat can be an emboldened disclosure. The baseball hat has become a personal billboard. It is a medium by which identity messaging is delivered in words (“Childless Cat Lady”) or images (Che Guevara) or logos (Utah Jazz).

Even if the upfront message is conveyed in bold tones, the underlying message is the whispered constant, “I am cool.” When the cool kids like Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton dress down in a plain baseball hat, the unspoken message is: “We have lots in common.”

I appreciate clever messaging because I like fiddling with words. I admired the aspirational recruiting slogan that the Army deployed in the 1980s—“Be all that you can be in the Army.” It blossomed while others withered on the vine.

Of the recently withered is a well-intended slogan from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In August, the church held a conference of unmarried adults under 35. The theme was “Together in Christ,” and thousands showed up to be together for three days around the Salt Palace. They dispersed smiling and carrying a souvenir T-shirt and baseball hat.

Printed on the front was “Went About Doing Good,” a Biblical reference to Jesus. I found it grammatically awkward. Just a little wordsmithing would have generated “Doin’ Good!” Or, even better, “Doin’ Good Doin’ Good!” for a play on nuance. I thought the vernacular “Doin’ Good” was a slightly better choice than the prim “Doing Well Doing Good!” Others would disagree. Suffice it to say, I judged it an opportunity lost.

I feel the same about the website of the National Football League. My sons are fans of the New England Patriots; they favor hats with the Patriots’ red-white-andblue logo embroidered on the front.

When I want to gift them Patriot merch, I rely on the online NFL Shop, where hundreds of branded hats are for sale. The hats are showcased in a category called “Sideline Gear.” It’s a lame choice of words, I think.

“Sideline Gear” could be construed to be a cellphone, sunglasses or hand-warmers. It evokes the image of hatwearing observers disengaged from the action on the field. Why not promote actionable engagement with categories like “Gridiron Gear” or “Scrimmage Gear”?

Such a change would resonate with the red-hatted Trumper, because it connotes conflict. The upbeat MAGA slogan Ronald Reagan rolled out in 1980 has suffered at the hands of Trump.

I hope the Harris presidency erases the memory of all things Trump, red hats included. To update MAGA eight years hence? I hope for: “Keep America Doin’ Great!” CW

Private Eye is off this week. Send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY BRYANT HEATH

MISS: Church and State

It doesn’t take much anymore to trigger the MAGA adherents in the state. If you remember, the former president was all about banning Muslims from entering the country, and that ban remained until 2021 when President Joe Biden repealed Donald Trump’s executive orders. It was no surprise that Davis County Republican Rep. Trevor Lee thought it appropriate to pump up disdain for Muslims when he saw a parade of black-garbed people along the sidewalks of Taylorsville. “Not a single American flag in sight,” he posted on X/Twitter. One of Lee’s followers called the participants “walking garbage bags.” But Lee was immediately served with facts from other commenters, “This is a procession which marks the stand Imam Husayn (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH) took against the tyrant Yazid,” one wrote. “Please google Karbala. It is a very noble and sacred cause, which all of humanity understands and supports, no matter what their religion or culture.”

HIT: Hold the Phones

Let’s talk about education for a minute—at least what’s left of it in Utah. In a better-late-than-never move, the Legislature appears amenable to a ban on cellphones in schools. Never let it be said that we follow California with anything, but that state did ban cellphones because of the huge learning distractions and risks to mental health they present. Of course, some parents are against a ban because they “need” to get hold of their kids. Apparently, they’ve forgotten that school offices have phones. Listen to the U.S. Surgeon General: he worries that cellphones are a threat to mental health. Still, if we’re really worried about students learning, maybe we should be talking to Rep. Ken Ivory, who says there’s “still work to be done” in banning books from school libraries. U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens takes it one step further calling some of the banned books “Marxist ideology that hates everything we stand for.” Do we think Owens ever read any of Marx?

MISS: Livin’ on a Prayer

There’s so much to say about Gov. Spencer Cox these days, but let’s talk about prayer and the Constitution rather than his startling embrace of the former president. “Now more than ever, it is important that every single one of us read and reflect on the inspired Constitution and its role in preserving our republic.” That’s what the Deseret News quoted Cox as saying during an August event at the Capitol. Utah Republicans often praise the Constitution but forget it’s a brilliant yet flawed document. For instance: women, Blacks, Catholics and white men without substantial property could not vote, and the word “God” never appears in the Constitution or Bill of Rights. And it was meant to be amended to keep it relevant. As Cox calls for prayer and contemplation, he should contemplate the dangers of constitutional originalism. CW

A Snail’s Place

This past summer in Salt Lake has had its fair share of exceptionally wacky weather. Most of the attention rightly focused on the record high temperatures and the inevitable connection to climate change—but what I’ve been more interested in has been the literal deluge from the monsoonal rains that appear to be a new normal as well.

While most appreciate the rains for financial reasons—water bills tend to skyrocket with temperature, too!— I enjoy them because it provides an opportunity to see one of my favorite animals up close and personal: snails. Yes, I know that these little guys are the bane of most gardeners but there is just something about their slow, seemingly purposeless movement and their overall “not giving a f--k” attitude that I can’t help but admire. And it appears like I am not the only one, as I’ve noticed an uptick in recent shelled iconography, not to mention that “Snail Lake City” does have a nice ring to it (and an Instagram account of the same name to boot, @snaillakecity).

All this has me wondering: are bees out and snails in? Quick, someone get Riverton Republican Sen. Dan McCay on the line, I think the state flag might need some updating.

South Salt Lake appears to be the epicenter of the boom, as there have been two recent mural additions featuring these genial gastropods scattered throughout town.

One, painted by Shley Kinser (@ tiny_shley on Instagram), can be found bobbing to some beats along the alleyway adjacent to the HipHop Education and Resource Center; whereas the other, over by the SLine’s South Salt Lake Station, features one with bloodshot bulbous eyes and the appropriate caption of “TOO SLOW, STILL FURIOUS.”

Nice to know that it’s not just us humans who experience road rage on State Street.

For me, the connection between snails and the county is easy to explain, based on our being home to a high number of ski bums. Both embody similar characteristics—living the laid-back lifestyle, loving moisture—although they diverge on their opinions of salted roadways.

And ultimately, that’s the dealbreaker for adopting snails as “Salt” Lake’s unofficial summer mascot— asking them to represent a city whose namesake is their mortal enemy is a tough sell. CW

Big Shiny Robot

Censor Sh*t

Blankets is a masterpiece—and only an idiot would ban it from Utah schools.

BY BRYAN YOUNG comments@cityweekly.net

Utah state legislator Ken Ivory likes burning books, and he’s very much into dystopian censorship. He doesn’t like calling it that, of course, as he indicated in an opinion piece published Aug. 23 in the Deseret News. He implied we’re all overreacting to Utah’s new legislation banning books from public school libraries, and that we wouldn’t dare print a description of any of the 13 banned books. It was all vulgar pornography, and damaging to kids.

He’s lying to us. To illustrate that, I’d like to point to Craig Thompson’s masterpiece Blankets, which made the list of publications banned from Utah’s schools. This is an important book—and doubly important to have in the hands of teenagers who might be going through the same types of crises it depicts.

Blankets is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a young man growing up in an Evangelical community. His parents are poor and abusive; he’s been sexually abused as a kid, though this behavior is not drawn explicitly. But he’s devoted to Christianity despite the torments of his life—constant bullying, low self-esteem, and the trauma of an unsafe childhood. Many of these are things I lived through. It’s probably hard for Ivory to imagine that these things happen in Utah’s own hyperreligious communities, but I’d like to assure him that they do.

In Blankets, teenage Craig meets a girl from another state named Raina at church camp, where they fall in love, and subsequently maintain a relationship through letters and phone calls. In one brief scene, Craig masturbates onto a sheet of paper (the scene does not explicitly show genitalia), and throws it away, ashamed. He assures the reader this is the only time he masturbated during his senior year, and it’s juxtaposed with him going to church. He’s confused by this compulsion, and tries using religion to understand his feelings. Sounds like something a lot of kids in Utah might be going through, right?

Craig convinces his parents to let him visit Raina during a school break, and since her parents are also good Christians, they agree. Craig and Raina have a fairly chaste visit—Raina convinces Craig to sleep in her bed, they cuddle with their shirts off, and we see (illustrated) bare breasts, but they don’t have sex. Craig returns home, and they struggle through a long-distance relationship, eventually breaking up. Craig then wrestles with his feelings about his faith, as his trauma and his experience with Raina shape him into a person able to emerge from the hell of his childhood.

Kids need that message: That they can survive those things. I suffered a lot of abuse during my own adolescent years, and didn’t encounter Blankets until I was an adult and owned a comic book store in Orem in the early 2000s. I felt like it was speaking directly to me. I’ve owned half a dozen copies over the past two decades, because I repeatedly end up handing it out to friends and family. It’s the sort of thing that brings hope to people who don’t know how to navigate those choppy waters, and might not have help available at home. That’s exactly why it’s so important to keep it in high school libraries.

Origins Spirit of Polynesia – Discover the traditions of the islands brought to Utah. This special one night only show features live music, traditional dance, fire dancing stories and more. The best Polynesian Night show outside of the islands. Sept. 7, 8pm Draper Amphitheater

So you can understand my confusion and shock when I found it on the banned-books list. When did we stop trusting librarians to curate books for kids in our schools, like they’re trained to do? And what do we do when the parent who’s supposed to “know best” is the actual problem?

Ivory says that we need to protect children from material that exacerbates issues of mental health for kids experiencing familial disintegration—except that Blankets is a salve on that exact wound. Either he hasn’t read it, or he doesn’t understand how reading works, and how it can help kids navigate personal traumas. To say Blankets is “damaging” would be to ignore the idea that damage has already been done to those who might seek it out in the first place. The idea that it’s vulgar spits in the face of our humanity and the struggles of temptation, biology and the confusing cognitive dissonance that religion asks us to grapple with.

I wouldn’t hesitate to hand Blankets to any teenager. Why it would need to be hidden from Utah’s teens is beyond me, and likely beyond any reasonable adult who has read it. I just did exactly what Ivory said we couldn’t do—describe the content of this book in specific detail—and I don’t think his objections actually have anything to do with sexual content or “protecting” children. I think they have more to do with the fact that something like Blankets might open a kid’s eyes to a future where they could see themselves leaving an abusive situation behind. For him, maybe that’s a bridge too far. In any case, until these lawmakers come to their senses or are thrown out of office, Blankets is available at local comic book stores and public libraries. Buy a copy. Better yet, buy two, and give one to a kid who needs it. Thanks to the Utah legislature, there are lot more out there than there otherwise would have been. CW

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Craig Thompson’s Blankets

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

In 1989, Friends of the Orem Public Library president Karen Ashton— inspired by a visit to a festival in Tennessee—decided to create a similar showcase for storytellers here in Utah, in part as a fundraiser for a new children’s library. Now celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival remains a wonderful showcase of the many different ways people can entertain and amaze us with nothing more than their voices and a welltold tale.

For three days, TimpFest showcases 74 storytellers from around the country and around the world, as well as Utah locals like Amber Richardson, Cassie Ashton and Debi Richan. In addition to geographical diversity, the lineup covers a range of tones and experiences, from humor to ghost stories, and sharing both personal tales and those with deep roots in their respective places of origin. An online presentation of the festival’s events will also take place Oct. 15 – Feb. 1. Food is available on-site, but guests are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Events begin at Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton Gardens (3900 Garden Dr., Lehi)— fittingly named in honor of Karen and her family—on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4:30 p.m., continuing Friday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Full event tickets are $45 - $75, with single-day tickets $10 for Thursday evening, $35 - $55 for Friday or Saturday full day and $20 for Friday or Saturday evening only; online access is $75. Visit timpfest.org for tickets and additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

Utah State Fair

A state fair is a little bit like that old fable about the blind men and the elephant—the way you think about it might be defined largely by which part of it you grab on to. Maybe it’s a down-home celebration of agricultural life, with animal judging, pies and the like. Maybe it’s an amusement park with thrill rides, midway games and delightfully unhealthy food. Maybe it’s a variety show, with a range of entertainers including big-name music acts. And maybe it’s all of those things.

PICKS,

SEPTEMBER 5-11, 2024

For 11 days in September, the Utah State Fairpark welcomes visitors to a grand showcase of food, music and every possible kind of legal fun. Thomas Carnival provides the midway games and rides including Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper cars, Ferris wheel and more. Stage-specific and roaming entertainment includes clowns, magicians and aerialists, and animal showcases take place throughout the run of the event. Beyond the main fairgrounds events, you’ve got PRCA Rodeo and monster truck events, plus great live music from the likes of Creedence Clearwater Revival legend John Fogerty, All-American Rejects with Neon Trees, and Dustin Lynch.

The 2024 Utah State Fair runs Thursday, Sept. 5 – Sunday, Sept. 15 (hours vary by date) at the Utah State Fairpark (155 N. 1000 West), with daily pre-sale tickets $10 - $12, $15 day of event. All-you-can-ride wristbands ($30 advance/$40 on site) and headline concert tickets are additional cost, as well as the PRCA Rodeo and motor sports events. Visit utahstatefair.com to purchase tickets, for full event schedule and additional information. (SR)

Broadway at the Eccles: Mrs. Doubtfire

It’s not unusual anymore for Broadway musicals to take hit films as their source material—and “hit” certainly applies to the 1993 comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, which was the second most popular film of that extremely successful year, falling behind only Jurassic Park and coming in ahead of the likes of The Fugitive and Disney’s Aladdin. But while its box-office success can certainly be attributed in large part to Robin Williams’ performance in the lead role, the movie itself wasn’t original, taking as its source material the 1987 novel Alias Madame Doubtfire. It was clearly the kind of engaging story that lent itself to a variety of interpretations.

For the stage musical version, veteran screenwriter Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, Over the Hedge) and his brother, composer Wayne Kirkpatrick followed up their collaboration on the Tony Award-winning Something Rotten! with a tale updated for the 21st century. The plot remains focused on divorced dad Daniel (played on tour by Rob McClure, who originated the role on Broadway for a Tony-nominated performance) who poses as a Scottish nanny in order to spend more time with his children. It’s a new, lively, funny and tuneful way to enjoy a beloved tale.

Broadway at the Eccles’ presentation of the touring company of Mrs. Doubtfire comes to the Eccles Theater (131 S. Main St.) Sept. 10 – 15, with performances at 7 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $59$159 at arttix.org. (SR)

From Our Friends At

The town of Eureka, Utah, located in the East Tintic Mountain Range, developed adjacent to mining operations in the late 1800s.

BURIED TREASURES

THROUGH BOOM AND BUST, THE TINY TOWN OF EUREKA, UTAH, FINDS WEALTH IN COMMUNITY.

BY M’LISA DALL COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

“Do you know what you’re looking at?” he asked. I studied the structure. With its wooden framework, winch, rope and bucket, it looked to me like an old-fashioned well.

The problem is, we were standing inside an office building. My host was Nick Castleton and we were in the Gately Building in Eureka, Utah.

“A well?” I posited. “But there must be more to the story.”

“Indeed there is,” Castleton said. He then proceeded to explain how in the “old days,” this side of the Gately building housed one of the many watering holes in town. After Prohibition outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages, the proprietors found a workaround ahead of monthly inspections.

“With everybody knowing everybody else, the enforcement officers took to calling ahead before coming in,” Castleton said. “The saloon staff would uncover the well—it was floor level in those days—bundle together all the liquor and

lower it into the well. When inspectors arrived, all they would find were men sitting around, chatting, playing cards and drinking a cup of coffee or soda.”

I first met Castleton via social media after posting general questions about Eureka on a community page. He suggested I come visit and even offered to be my tour guide.

As it turned out, Castleton is not new to playing host. Having grown up in Eureka, he later served on the City Council (2012 to 2014) and as the city’s mayor (2014 to 2022). In these roles, he introduced countless visitors to the area.

My little group found him generous with his time and encyclopedic in his knowledge. We were schooled in mining procedures, outlaws and rogues, red-light districts, railroads, longhorn ranches, sledding trails and folklore.

If you are familiar with Tintic, that’s most likely due to its proximity to the Little Sahara Recreation area, with its sand dunes and ATV trails.

Or maybe you’ve been rockhound-

ing and ended up in the ghost towns of Mammoth or Silver City.

And speaking of ghost towns, perhaps you caught a couple episodes of Ghost Adventures exploring the reported hauntings in Eureka itself?

But for the uninitiated, Eureka is located along Highway 6 in the East Tintic Mountain Range, approximately 75 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The Tintics got their name from the Ute Indian Chief Tintick who, in the 1850s, eluded arrest by a U.S. posse by ensconcing his band in its canyons. He was never caught and, after a while, the posse searching for him disbanded. The Tintics, having been deemed unfit for farming, were left alone as well, and for many years lay undisturbed, except for seasonal cattle herds or pony express riders.

All this tranquility came to an end one day when a cowboy picked up a rock. For years, there’d been speculation that the Tintics were hiding mineral ore—perhaps even a lode rivaling that of the California gold strike of ‘49. So when word

got out that this rock was rich in silver it resulted in a frenzy of activity.

Bonanza

Disregarding all caution, one wagon of local men started out in December of 1869, according to A History of Juab County (1999). It should have been no surprise that they were stopped by a quick-moving storm at that time of year, yet these men were unprepared. Making camp in a place called Ruby Hollow, they awoke to find everything shrouded under heavy snow drifts and with all visual markers unrecognizable.

The men concluded they had no option but to go back home. Return travel turned out to be slow and laborious and the trail difficult to find.

At midday, they stopped to eat and then noticed that along a nearby mountain ledge, the wind had blown clear an outcropping of rock and that the sunlight hitting it shone unusually bright. They climbed up to take a closer look.

Did You Know?

• Frank Zamboni, inventor of the zamboni ice resurfacing machine, was born in Eureka.

• The first religious denomination in Tintic was Catholic, with the first conversions performed by Father Lawrence Scanlan, who later was appointed the first Catholic bishop in Utah.

• Orrin Porter Rockwell, famous/ infamous bodyguard to LDS leaders Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, owned a ranch and lived for a time just west of Eureka. His cabin has been relocated onto Main Street.

• “Tommyknockers” are little demons or ghosts, Welsh in origin, that were believed to create knocking sounds deep in the mines, sometimes meant to warn miners of dangers and other times just to toy with them.

• “Buzzie” is mining slang for a hand-held pneumatic drill.

• Aviator Amelia Earhart once crash-landed near Eureka. While awaiting repairs, she stayed with mine owner Cecil Fitch and consequently became lifelong friends with Fitch’s sister Maud. Maud Fitch, a semi-celebrity in her own right, was an ambulance driver during WWI, where she earned the French Croix de Guerre and the Bronze star for her efforts.

• Little Pony Chesbro, one of outlaw Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, was known to have lived in Eureka off and on.

• Humorous names were often given to local mines. My favorite? “Damfino.” The name came about because when the filing clerk asked the miner what it should be called, he said: “Damn-if-I-Know.”

Former Eureka mayor—and occasional tour guide—Nick Castleton.

These outcroppings turned out to be high grade copper ore, and soon were part of the first mining claim in Tintic. They named it the Sunbeam.

Soon, the valleys and gulches of Tintic teemed with prospectors, assayers, teamsters, saloons and houses of prostitution. Each successful strike attracted more people—mining camps became boom towns, boom towns became cities and cities grew large with banks, hotels, boarding houses, variety stores, post offices and churches.

The arrival of the railroads in 1878 accelerated production. By then, the largest mines were owned and operated by conglomerates and the mining industry was so busy that jobs were going unfilled.

The corporations turned to immigration. Families were encouraged to send for relatives and companies placed “want ads” in foreign-market newspapers. Eureka’s newspapers boasted that the only English an immigrant needed to know were the words “Eureka Utah,” “Tintic” or “Shea Hotel,” and the authorities at Ellis Island could give them correct directions. Tintic was a polyglot of language, customs and cultures.

A letter dated 1947 between the Eureka City mayor and the Utah Centennial Committee states that during the most active years of production (1869-1947), Tintic’s total yield of hard rock mining— gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc—was more than 2 billion tons.

This equates to some $9 billion in 2024 dollars. In addition, Halloysite clay and lead were also produced, with the latter playing a vital role in the war efforts of World War II.

The wealth of Utah mining, especially when including the output from other mines throughout the state, was staggering. Because of the pivotal role Eureka played in the West, the entire city was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Between 1869 and 1947, mines in the Tintic area produced more than 2 billion tons of gold, copper, lead and zinc.

Mining profits impacted the state of Utah in more ways than personal wealth or lowered joblessness. As Brigham Young University’s Gary Fuller Reese has pointed out in his 1961 thesis about Eureka mine owner Jesse Knight, Tintic monies paid for state-wide building projects like offices, libraries, churches and schools. At one point Knight also donated the seed money for BYU and saved the Latter-day Saint church from insolvency. Similar claims can be made about mine owners John Beck and Walter Fitch.

Drop into the Utah State Capitol some time and check out the Reception Room (also known as the Gold Room). Funding for this space was donated by the McIntyre brothers, Texans who had come through Utah on a cattle drive to Montana. While in Utah, they met Charles Crismon, controlling partner of the thenstruggling Mammoth mine.

As Castleton tells the story: “Crismon had always wanted to own a cattle ranch and the McIntyres were interested in mining. At some point—and some say that alcohol was involved—they brokered a trade.”

Tailings

So what remains of Tintic today? While many of the district’s towns have followed a predictable boom-and-bust cycle, the city of Eureka remains alive and kicking. It is small (population 740) but still has a fully functioning mayor’s office and City Council.

In keeping with its history, Eureka has top-notch schools, youth sports programs, several religious denominations and various civic clubs—including the oldest continual-use Elks club building west of the Mississippi.

But like its fortunes, this seemingly good luck has been neither steady nor was it achieved without great cost.

The last of the historic mines—the

Trixie—closed in 2002. That same year, after completing a health study, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that lead levels in the soil were too high and Eureka was declared a Superfund site. Their $78.5 million cleanup was completed in 2010.

But with Tintic, what comes around goes around.

In 2022 Osisko Development Corporation, a gold development company out of Canada, began exploration and development. Osisko focuses on past-producing camps that have district scale potential.

In a recent press release, Osisko president Chris Lodder said early results from the Trixie area are pointing the company toward cooperation-rich areas in Tintic’s polymetallic historical zones. Osisko is currently advancing its exploration and operating permit progress.

As one would expect after enduring the EPA cleanup and then the COVID-19 pandemic, local businesses have struggled. Those that were able to hang on have been joined by new start-ups, so a glimmer of hope is shining through.

I asked Castleton how he accounts for Eureka’s longevity. Sounding like the mayor he once was, he said it was simply its proximity to larger cities and the ease of the commute.

“In the old days, people had to live near their jobs because not everyone drove and the roads weren’t as nice,” he observed. “Now, people can live anywhere.” He makes a good point, but perhaps something less practical is going on here as well.

Historically, the citizens of Tintic survived fires, flash floods, labor unrest, dangerous work and even cave-ins. By all accounts, they typically responded with creativity, industry, generosity and a sense of humor.

In 1892—as writer Beth Kay Harris described in The Towns of Tintic (1961)—labor unrest shut down production and one

Railroads accelerated the expansion of Tintic mines.

mine owner shipped in strikebreakers.

The local women subsequently banded together and, led by a woman called “Boxcar” Annie Kelly, marched to the train station and blocked the strikebreakers from getting off the train.

Kelly—apparently a rather large and strong woman—reportedly suspended one of the men upside-down over the railroad trestle and threatened to drop him if he didn’t back off.

When Spanish flu hit the district and the hospital in Mammoth was filled to capacity, the local LDS and Catholic churches combined resources, opened their buildings and created makeshift care units.

During the Depression of the 1930s— and prior to the institution of any federal programs—the community at large set up work units to gather firewood outside of town, with the proceeds going to families in need. At Christmas, civic clubs sponsored free movies and candy for the local children.

Confronting modern-day challenges, the all-volunteer Eureka Historic Society organized itself in 1973 and only 10 years later won the Albert B. Corey Award from the American Association of State and Local History for its creation of both the Tintic Mining Museum and the publication of a history of the area.

This museum has only improved with time and, as far as I am concerned, should be on every must-see list.

Jubilee

Just as in the old days, Eureka likes its celebrations. Topmost is the Silver Festival. Modeled after the Silver Jubilee of 1929, it is held every August. Typical of small town celebrations, it includes a parade, 5K race, car show, cornhole contest, raffle and photo contest, plus vendors, fireworks and a live concert.

Other events held throughout the year

Mary Crank, owner of Crazy Mary’s rock shop.

are fundraisers with proceeds going to children in need. Retired KSL newsman Doug Wright (a Eureka resident) has hosted the “Ride to Light Up Eureka’’ motorcycle rally from Salt Lake to Eureka, as well as the “Cool Summer Nights’ Poker Run,” an ATV course where riders collect cards at various stops with the goal being to build the best poker hand.

Many businesses in town reflect this inherent can-do attitude as well. I found the business district quirky and fun, with things like a coffee apothecary and a motorcycle museum. The restaurants, while not many, are varied and truly delicious.

Crazy Mary’s rock shop and antique store occupies a portion of the old Gately building (which also houses the well that Castleton showed me). Its owner, Mary Crank, is proud that her business, as well as her living quarters, sit in the only topless bar in town—topless because the building lacks its top floor (get your minds out of the gutter).

An Iowan transplant, Crank reports that she came to Eureka because of the history but stays for the people. “There’s so much diversity here,” she told me. “People do crazy things and so do I.’’

Crank told me that more than once she has awakened in the night to find local teens sitting in her entry room, waiting to see the ghosts that are rumored to haunt the building.

Fourth grader Chase Norman—this year’s winner of the Utah League of Cities and Towns Essay Contest—probably speaks for many when he writes that the people in Eureka “are the best” and the surrounding nature is “calming.”

“The community is very small, which means that almost everybody knows everybody. Almost everyone is trusted!” he wrote in his essay. “If you want a great place to stay, come straight to the fun and nice place Eureka, Utah!”

After visiting the area myself, I am inclined to agree. CW

Food Fest Feasts

September is a great month for food festivals–here are a few to keep on your radar.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

While we have plenty of great food festivals peppered throughout the summer, Utah’s culinary party game really picks up in the fall. It’s when we enjoy seasonal favorites like Oktoberfest while getting our last picks of fresh produce at the various farmers markets along the Wasatch Front–anything to help us prep for the winter ahead. From cultural celebrations to annual shindigs, here is a list of all the food fests that you’ll want to keep on your radar.

Salt Lake Greek Festival

September 6-8

279 S. 300 West saltlakecitygreekfestival.com

At 48 years running, the Salt Lake Greek Festival has become one of the Wasatch Front’s most beloved cultural events. As the second largest cultural festival in Utah and the largest Greek festival in the Western United states, this is an event that always draws a crowd–usually somewhere around 35,000 guests. Everyone has their own approach to tackling the Greek Festival, but I always gravitate toward the food. It’s prepared by the truckload, so there’s always plenty to go around. The centerpiece to the Greek Festival’s culinary wing would have to be its spit-roasted lamb–an evocative and tasty encapsulation of what makes Greek food so enticing. I tend to plan multiple courses during my visit, so I’ll typically start with a gyro and Greek salad before I hit the shops. After watching some of the local music and dancing, I’ll head back for the casserole-like pastichio, otherwise known as Greek lasagna. This pairs nicely with some dolmades, herbaceous grape leaves stuffed with a seasoned beef and rice mixture. For dessert, the baklava is a classic, but don’t overlook the custardy galaktoboureko if you need something a bit more substantial.

Eat Drink SLC

September 11-12

589 E. 1300 South eatdrinkslc.com

Downtown SLC loves its casual culture fests dearly, but it also loves an excuse to throw on some party duds and sample a bit of the bubbly. To this end, we have Eat Drink SLC, an elegant yet approachable shindig that celebrates some of the finest food, wine, and spirits that Salt Lake has to offer.

Organized and operated by members of SB Dance and Tracy Aviary, Eat Drink SLC helps raise money for both orga-

DINE

nizations while donating funds to New Roots SLC, which helps refugees establish themselves in new communities.

This year’s event celebrates the festival’s tenth anniversary, and its twonight revelries will each feature a different roster of food and beverage vendors. The dining highlights of September 11 will be Urban Hill, Provisions, Franck’s, Ivy & Varley, Fácil Taqueria and Xiao Bao Bao. From James Beard nominees to creative takes on Mexican and Asian cuisine, these are some of Utah’s heaviest culinary hitters. To complement this allstar team of local dining, attendees can sample libations from Beehive Distilling, Laurent-Perrier, Nossa and St. Hildie’s.

On Thursday, attendees can get samples from Oquirrh, The Copper Onion, Finca, Avenues Proper and Hill’s Kitchen, to name a few. It’s a list that includes a few local fine dining pioneers along with some up and comers in our local food scene. Thursday’s drink vendors include Waterpocket Distillery, Ogden’s Own Distillery, Rutherford Wine Company and Terrestoria.

Tickets include both nights, and they tend to sell out fast–snag them while you can.

Festa Italiana

September 14-15

400 W. 200 S. festaitalianaslc.com

Like the Greek Festival, the Festa Italiana is gigantic. Taking place over two days at Downtown’s Gateway Shopping Center, this is the one that pasta lovers look forward to every year. This year’s food vendors are all spectacular, but Mastra Italian Bakery is the one I’m most excited about. I’ve had my share of homemade

focaccia, but Mastra is the gold standard to which I measure them all.

Other highlights include Matteo Ristorante–it’s been making all kinds of waves in the local food scene–Sicilia Mia, Per Noi Trattoria and of course attendees have to pay homage to Caputo’s. Where most of the food you’d get at the Greek Festival lends itself to multiple courses, you’ll want to pace yourself at Festa Italiana. Opt for the slow trickle of pizza and pasta while you take in the Italian music and peruse the different vendors. If you really want to show off your binge capabilities, you can always sign up for the pasta eating contest.

Snail Fest 2024

September 22

2065 E. 2100 South slowfoodutah.org

Slow Food Utah is all about recognizing local establishments that prioritize sustainability, environmental responsibility, cultural connection and ethical business practices. This year celebrates Slow Food Utah’s first annual Snail Fest, which will feature local spots that have received their Snail of Approval Award–it’s a roster that includes Sego Restaurant, Central 9th Market, Beltex Meats and Pago to name a few. Tickets will include five small bites and two drinks from the attending vendors, and a cash bar will be open.

Snail Fest is perfect for locovores that like to support those members of our community that strive to keep things in the community while remaining sustainable and ethical. It’s a great way to learn more about establishments that are going the extra mile for their craft. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale

2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Lollygaggin’ Farmhouse Ale

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: SLC Pils (German-style Pilsner)

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC

BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Cerveza De Mayo for Bewilder.

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

On Tap: California Steam Lager, American Heritage Lager NEW: Oktoberfest Märzenbier

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: Pie Hole; Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Craft by Proper 1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: Hans Kombucha’s Mango Fresno Kombucha

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  Ay Curuba! Curuba Sour

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Blood Orange Wheat

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: All-American Blend Cider, Lemon-Lime-Grapefruit Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2  Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co.

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Beehive Brown (on Nitro!)

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Dark Czech Style Pilsner (a collab with Ogden Brewing Company)

Level Crossing Brewing Co.

2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake

LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Vienna-Style Lager

Follow us on Instagram: @ levelcrossingbrewing

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST

550 S. 300 West, Suite 100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Bat Country Blonde Ale FREE yoga every other Saturday. 10:15am

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  Arnie (Co-Lab with 2 Row brewing): cream ale base with Lychee black tea and fresh pasteurized lemon juice.

Mountain West Cider

425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Pineapple Ginger hard cider

Offset Bier Co 1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/ On Tap: DOPO IPA

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

On Tap: 11 rotating taps as well as high point cans and guest beers

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: GNAR Juice - 5.0% Hard

Seltzer, infused with electrolytes from Gnarly Nutrition

Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com

Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com

On Tap: “Look at this Photograf” (Graf beer in collaboration with Second Summit Cider)

A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com

On Tap: Luna Negra (Mexican Dark Lager)

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com On Tap: Munich Dunkel

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: 19th Flow IPA

Roosters Brewing

Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Pineapple Sour Seltzer

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com On Tap: Punk as Fuck IIIPA

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com On Tap: Prickly Pear Kolsch

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com

On Tap: Scion Anjou Perry6.2% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek https://secondsummitcider. com

On Tap: Pineapple Mango 6.5%

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer

On Tap: Slushies; Harvey Wallbanger Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Salud Mexican Lager; Spring Fever Grapefruit Radler

Silver Reef

4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George SGBev.com

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co.

147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/squatters

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. KOHATU IPA

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery 1763 So 300 West, SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Bulletproof Zest Lemon Kolsch

Small Batch Series Release: Polyandry Pilsner - Fri 9/13

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: The Baroness (Munich Helles); Roll Em’ Easy (Cold IPA w/Elani and Galaxy)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville,

BEER NERD

A Piquant Pair

This week’s palate-stimulating selections are a perfect primer for autumn

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Salt Flats - Tropic Rye Lager: This new beer features one of my favorite malts: rye. There are plenty of rye ales floating around out there, but not too many lagers. This rye lager also boasts a hop bill that is less typical of lager, and more so what you’d expect from a pale ale—yet somehow, it all seems to work.

The beer forms a chill haze, but is otherwise pretty clear, with a light tinge of amber. A less-than-aggressive pour from the beer tender produces about two fingers of dense, pillowy, sticky off-white foam; I can see a bubble or two of carbonation in the glass. The aroma is a nice mixture of citrus notes like mandarin orange, some tropical hints and spicy rye. It’s definitely on the hoppy/rye side of the pale ale spectrum. The beer is mostly dry, and malts suggest bread crust and crackers.

The taste is similar to the smell, an initial hit of orange-flavored hops giving way to more tropical, floral flavors. The rye isn’t too spicy, but it fits well here. There is just a hint of honey sweetness from the lagered fermentation to offset the other flavors. The body is medium/ light in heft, and the beer has a smooth carbonation that makes it easy to drink.

Verdict: This is a vibrant lager, and full-flavored for sure. The hops balance it nicely, short of an IPA level, but plenty bitter, too. This is a great expression of rye in an easy-drinking beer—quality stuff here from Salt Flats.

Salt Lake Brewing - Bee Sting: Botanical beers stretch back thousands of

years to the very first beers. Bee Sting from Salt Lake Brewing blends a little bit of today with very old-school piquant flavors. There’s a beautiful pour to this, with a radiant, goldenrod hue. The beer is topped off by plenty of white and offsetting foam that complemented it beautifully. Most of the lacing left on the side of my pint glass was in a deep ring near the top. Tons of lavender and potpourri notes appear in the nose, as this felt like something straight out of a garden, with a ton of perfume and wheat thrown in for good measure.

The palate started with sunflower honey, possessing a gentle sweetness to it that contained zero sugar or overt kick. The end result is a beer that was quite natural and unrestrained, as the lavender and wheat only added to its appeal. An orange blossom-like slickness lingered on my palate long after this went down, the lack of carbonation only adding to the thick and everlasting appeal of this liquid. There was a perfect amount of 5.0 percent alcohol here—it felt like nectar without the tanginess. If you like your beers to be floral, natural and rustic, you have your match here. This came across as something transported to the future from centuries past.

Verdict: It’s sort of tea-like, overly flavored—less like beer in the traditional sense—but if you think spiced ale, gruit-type things, I think this beer is one of a kind and truly incredible. All of the beers that I had the chance to try from Salt Lake Brewing Co. are different, inventive and, for the most part, supremely well-executed. I had a lot of fun with this one, and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on more of their stuff.

Both of these offerings are only available on draft. Luckily, both Salt Flats and Salt Lake Brewing have multiple locations to visit, so finding this week’s featured beers shouldn’t be too difficult.

As always, cheers! CW

BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

SLC Eatery Closes

The team at SLC Eatery announced that they would be closing their doors permanently at the end of September. The sad news came via the SLC Eatery Instagram account (@slceatery), which also noted that their last day of business would be scheduled at some time in the near future. Anyone who called themselves a local foodie knew and loved SLC Eatery, with its creative entrees and nightly dim sum-style cart that made the rounds. This was one of the places I’d always recommend to people who didn’t think that Salt Lake had any culinary innovation, and it’s a shame that we’re losing such a great establishment. Here’s wishing the whole SLC Eatery team the very best.

Late Night Sushi at Aker Restaurant & Lounge

Downtown’s new nightspot Aker (9 Exchange Plaza) recently announced a late night sushi menu that will be available on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Helmed by Aker’s sushi chef Pae Randall, the late night sushi menu looks to take advantage of the dry-aged sushi process that Chef Randall has helped bring to Utah. The new menu will be complemented by signature cocktails prepared by mixologist Erik Morales, rounding out Aker’s plan to become one of Salt Lake’s most attractive nightspots. My experience with Aker’s sushi menu has been nothing but positive, and the idea of a late night sushi jaunt always sounds appealing.

Park City Shot Ski Tickets On Sale

It’s almost time for the eighth annual Park City Shot Ski, and tickets have recently gone on sale. Organized by the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club and High West Distillery, the Park City Shot Ski is both a communal drinking event and local fundraiser. If you don’t know what a shot ski is, the explanation is pretty straightforward–it’s a ski fitted with shot glasses which are then filled with whiskey and simultaneously thrown back by a row of thirsty people. This year, the event is shooting to raise $60k for the 20 community groups that the rotary club supports. This year’s event takes place on October 12, and tickets can be purchased at parkcityshotski.com.

Quote of the Week: “It’s true that whiskey improves with age. The older I get, the more I like it.” –Robert Black

September Screens

Special screenings of Halloween classics, Jurassic Park in concert, Blazing Saddles 50th anniversary and more.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net

@scottrenshaw

Tower of Terror 2024: The Salt Lake Film Society’s Tower Theatre might still be unavailable, but the annual Halloween season showcase of scary repertory classics is still very much alive (or is it?!?). Every Friday and Saturday through Halloween, for two shows daily, some of the creepiest, grossest, most horrifically beloved thrillers and chillers of all time get a showcase in the Tower of Terror. The schedule includes 1980’s Friday the 13th (9/13), 1982’s The Thing (9/14), 1981’s Evil Dead on 35mm (9/20), 2001’s Ichi the Killer (9/21), 1978’s Halloween (9/27), 1985’s Dawn of the Dead (9/28), 2009’s Jennifer’s Body (10/4), 1983’s Sleepaway Camp (10/5), 1988’s The Brain (10/11), 2001’s Elvira’s Haunted Hills (10/12), 2018’s Hereditary (10/18), 1973’s The Exorcist (10/19), 1974’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (10/25) and 1980’s The Shining (10/26). Tickets are $15. The festival concludes with the traditional screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show 10/31 – 11/2 (showtimes and tickets still TBD). slfs.org

KRCL “Music Meets Movies”: Festival Express: KRCL’s regular series of musicthemed films at Brewvies (677 S. 200 West) kicks off its new season with the 2003 documentary Festival Express. Through

archival footage and contemporary interviews, it chronicles a summer 1970 tour of Canada—and the train that carried them between gigs—that featured some of the biggest musical acts of the time, including Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and The Band. Concert footage mixes with the events on the train for a portrait of a non-stop party.

KRCL’s John Florence introduces the film for the screening on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10, or 2-for-1 with KRCL T-shirt. brewvies.com

Utah Symphony: Jurassic Park in Concert: Utah Symphony brings plenty of classic films to Abravanel Hall for its “Movies in Concert” series, but few titles seem more perfectly suited for live orchestral accompaniment than Steven Spielberg’s 1993 science-fiction spectacle about a remote island where revived dinosaurs run amok.

A big-screen presentation makes it clear how well the film’s groundbreaking visual effects have aged, while the Symphony brings it to life with John Williams’ iconic score. This kickoff for Utah Symphony’s 2024-2025 season comes to Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple) Friday, Sept. 13 and

Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. nightly. Tickets begin at $30. utahsymphony.org

Blazing Saddles 50th Anniversary: Cowriter/director Mel Brooks’ 1974 Western parody—about a Black railroad worker (Cleavon Little) installed as the figurehead sheriff of a racist frontier town—remains one of the most memorably outrageous comedies ever made, and high on the list of every conservative’s “you could never make this today, because of woke” list. Fathom Events’ “Big Screen Classics” series brings Blazing Saddles to theaters—including Megaplex Theatres locations—for two screenings: Sunday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.; tickets are $10.73 - $11.80. megaplextheatres.com

Utah Filmmaker Showcase: Local Shorts: The Utah Film Center’s Artist Foundry program presents an evening of seven short films by Utah filmmakers, ranging from drama to science fiction, from documentary to music video: Don’t Lose Your Heart by Wilder Simmons and Michelle Manning; Listen to Their Voices by Gabe Brown; Sentenced by Delaney Plant; Die Shiny – Sacrament by Ryan Margetts; Dear Geraldo by

ning will also include a moderated Q&A featuring participating filmmakers led by Artist Foundry manager Amanda Madden. The event takes place at the Edison House (355 S. 200 West) on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested. utahfilmcenter.org

Wasatch Mountain Film Festival: Great outdoor-themed documentary films have been coming to the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival for a decade now, and the tradition continues in 2024. Nearly 50 short films—presented in 10 “blocks” of 120 – 150 minutes—cover human striving and achievement, and the mysteries and challenges of the natural world. Screenings take place Vieve Gore Concert Hall at Westminster College (1840 S. 1300 East), Thursday, Sept. 19 – Sunday, Sept. 22, with additional workshops and presentations for filmmakers. Virtual screenings will also be available for 30 days. Festival standard passes are $100 - $125, with $18 individual screening block tickets also available. wasatchfilmfestival.org CW

Adriene Klein; Dad Jokes by Ryan Margetts; and Pretendian by Regina Simons. The eve-

Pure as Folk

Emily Hicks delivers a musically and emotionally diverse collection of songs on Weird Wild Wonderful.

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

Pressing play on a new album can feel as exciting and adventurous as opening a new book—there’s sure to be an alluring story, compelling perspectives and lots of entertainment value. SLC singer/songwriter Emily Hicks has been hard at work on her debut album, and listeners can finally take a dive into the work Friday, Sept. 6.

Entitled Weird Wild Wonderful, the album draws inspiration from the diverse landscape of the western United States, evoking the sights, sounds and emotions of the great outdoors with a hint of nostalgia. Through lush lyrical metaphors and soaring vocal lines, Hicks relays stories of unconditional love, letting go of the past and navigating the growing pains of young adulthood. Similar to a hike through the Wasatch Mountains, Weird Wild Wonderful takes listeners on an adventure full of emotional ups and downs with surprises around each bend. This album is as diverse and exciting musically as the natural environments that inspired it.

The album starts with the (sort of) title track, “Weird Wild Wonderful You,” which was inspired by Hicks’ husband. “People my age tend to be picky when it comes to relationships, but I’ve been with my husband for 10+ years now, and truthfully, my checklist of ‘what I want in a perfect partner’ completely went out the window when I met him,” she said. “It’s not that he didn’t fit the list, it’s that I fell so in love with the person he is, flaws and all, that

MUSIC

‘perfect’ didn’t matter anymore.”

This song is a perfect introduction, not only because it’s a title track, but because the lively, cheerful feeling sets the tone for the rest of the album. The folk/Americana vibes are incredibly welcoming, and immediately make you curious for what’s to come. It’s the perfect track to send to your honey, with standout lyrics like, “Oh and it wouldn’t make a difference if you checked every box / It wouldn’t have mattered if I looked before I jumped / Cause honey when it’s all said and done / The heart wants what it wants / And mine wants you.”

Later on in the album, you’ll hear “Anymore,” a song about growing apart from a childhood friend. Many of us can probably relate with the accompanying twinge of emotional pain every time you think about it. “Letting go of old realities and seeing friends flourish without us can be painful,” Hicks said. The song paints a beautiful picture of childhood memories—like playing with toys and riding bikes through town— before getting into the gut-wrenching cho-

rus with the lines “Cause you seem to have it all / And I thought you didn’t need me / Anymore.” Hicks’ vocals on this track are longing and stunning, really hitting you like an emotional sucker punch.

As you continue listening through the album, you’ll come across “One Piece at a Time,” co-written by fellow SLC singer/ songwriter Alicia Stockman. This song is all about “loving people through all the stupid stuff they do,” according to Hicks. “Nobody is perfect, and when you live with someone, their lack of ‘perfection’ becomes more and more glaringly obvious,” she said. This is an upbeat and intriguing track that will make you want to instantly get up and dance. The swinging beat is perfect for boogeying alone, or for grabbing your significant other to dance the night away in each other’s arms. “If you hold me tight like superglue / I will stick a scotch tape kiss on you / With a little love we’ll be able to / Put us back together / One piece at a time,” Hicks sings.

Weird Wild Wonderful is a delightful,

thoughtful and enjoyable listen from beginning to end. Hicks can go from fun and entertaining, to solemn and earnest in the span of a few songs, and it’s great to get such range in an album. If you find yourself unsure of listening because you don’t listen to a lot of folk music, don’t let that stop you. Hicks’ music is very bright and pleasant, making it easy to listen to, even if you don’t dabble in the genre much.

Through the album, Hicks tells stories of home, love, childhood and traveling—subjects that people from plenty of different walks of life relate to. From her sweet vocals to the beautiful use of string instruments, Weird Wild Wonderful feels like coming home. If you’re in the mood for music that will wrap you up in a lovely embrace, this is the album for you.

Don’t miss Weird Wild Wonderful when it’s available everywhere on Friday, Sept. 6. Throw on your favorite headphones and don’t be afraid to dive into this one, and be sure to send it to your loved ones; they’ll be happy you did. CW

Emily Hicks

THURSDAYS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

SHARK SUNDAYS

POOL TOURNEY

HOSTED BY TANNER

MONDAYS

REGGAE MONDAY WITH DJ NAPO

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS KARAOKE

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

Creed @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 9/6

Launched in 1994 in Tallahassee, Fla., post-grunge quartet Creed went on to become the rarest of creatures: critically dismissed but hugely successful on a commercial level. Fronted by angst-filled singer Scott Stapp, Creed delivered songs exploring emotional themes that certainly resonated with listeners. Creed’s debut release My Own Prison sold more than 6 million copies domestically, while the band’s second album, 1999’s Human Clay, was certified Diamond (more than 11 million units sold), making it one of the biggest sellers in the 21st century, a distinction it still holds. Creed’s best-known song, “One Last Breath,” is an exemplar of the group’s rocking, melodramatic and earnest approach to songcraft. Despite personal setbacks and turmoil, the band—which took two breaks, 2005 - 2009 and again 2013 - 2023—still boasts its classic lineup: Stapp plus guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. Creed’s passionate, heart-on-sleeve Christian-themed rock isn’t for all tastes—they somehow manage to show up time and again on both best- and worst-band polls—but there’s no denying the enduring power and popularity of this band. Creed comes to Salt Lake City’s Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.; remaining tickets for the concert are $199 and up, and can be purchased via livenation.com. (Bill Kopp)

MUSIC PICK S

OBAŸASHI @ Sky Rooftop 9/6

Under the name OBAŸASHI, Alexus Obayashi is a well-known face in the local music scene. In eight years of DJing and six years of producing music, OBAŸASHI has already secured lineups such as Mutiny Music Collective’s Singularity, V2’s Get Lucky and Das Energi Festival, and will also be performing in the upcoming Get Freaky Festival this October. They’ve also played in direct support of big names in the industry, such as Malaa, Dombresky, Green Velvet, Walker & Royce, Wax Motif and J. Worra. Their sets are full of raw energy and designed to transport you to another place—most importantly, somewhere you can be unapologetically yourself. For lovers of house music, OBAŸASHI’s sets are the cream of the crop and range from all spectrums of house, indie dance and techno. Check out their music on Spotify, including newest singles like “High Baby,” “Get High,” “Some Type of Way,” and “I Give You,” which all released this year. The Sky Rooftop series by LNE Presents is coming to an end, so don’t miss out on these last warm summer nights to dance along to OBAŸASHI’s set on Friday, Sept. 6. Doors open at 9 p.m. with free entry to the 21+ show with RSVP before 10:30 p.m. Go to skyslc.com (Arica Roberts)

KRCL’s Day in the Park @ International Peace Gardens 9/7

On the brink of their 45th birthday, our friends at KRCL are ushering back in their beloved Day in the Park, outfitted with a bunch of celebrated local acts to ring in the last days of this extraordinarily hot summer—all in celebration of local radio that rocks. Featuring performances by Kate MacLeod, Miss Pandos, Academia MisRaíces, Malialole, Mel Soul & The Heartbeat, The Buckle Busters and Michelle Moonshine, the day is scheduled to be chock-full of six hours’ worth of talent, bringing the sweet sound of community to all those who care to sit a spell and listen. But wait! There’s more! On-site food offerings include Balabe Senegalese Cuisine, Pandos Navajo Tacos, and Touch of Polynesia, and the day will be capped off with an opportunity drawing for a brand spankin’ new electric bike from Saturday Cycles, perfect for cruising around town in the upcoming fall chill. Better yet, this event is free, family-friendly and welcome to all. The festivities begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 7 p.m. For more information, you can visit KRCL’s website (and give their station a spin, while you’re at it): krcl.org. (Sophie Caligiuri)

Michelle Moonshine

Olivia Rodrigo Sparkle Horse

Olivia Rodrigo Sparkle Horse

Linda Ronstadt

CHECKOUT THE ROOFTOP PATIO!

Violent Femmes @ Sandy Amphitheater 9/8-9/9

MUSIC PICK S

Violent Femmes’ self-titled debut album, released in the spring of 1983, was (is) a sonic time capsule of hilarious, snotty, self-conscious, lovelorn, lonely compositions, with witty lyrics that made more sense than the exaggerated anger and implicit (and explicit) violence of what was going on in the world at that time. Their sophomore effort, Hallowed Ground, came out a year later, and—fun fact—the tracks from their follow-up were penned before their debut, as the band wanted to concentrate on “upbeat” songs. Forty-one years later, the founding members Gordan Gano and Brian Ritchie have put aside their differences for a fresh start. “We have such different thoughts sometimes it seems about everything, whether anything of real importance or not. We see it in an opposite way very often, but we play music together well. It really works—creating a sound of this band Violent Femmes,” Gano told Thrasher Magazine. “We work because of the music. We can communicate because of the music. You can’t deny that.” I was about a decade late to it all, but one glorious summer my Walkman almost exclusively played Violent Femmes. “Blister in the Sun” and “Add it Up” were musical initiations into the awesome power of relentless, angsty inclination. It messed up my music tastes for the better. Catch this band at the Sandy Amphitheater as they play both of these seminal albums in full on Sunday, Sept. 8 (sold out at press time) and Monday, Sept. 9. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets for the allages show range from $66 - $179 and can be found here ticketmaster.com (Mark Dago)

John Fogerty @ Utah State Fairpark 9/11

Well before Woodstock and the other festivals that followed, John Fogerty spawned a populist proviso when, in the song “Down on the Corner,” he hailed a sound that could be played “down on the corner, out there in the street.” Along with his seminal influential outfit, Creedence Clearwater Revival, he set the stage for Springsteen, Seger, Mellencamp and scores of other heartland rockers who brought essential American music to the people. Indeed, when one thinks of Americana, what better examples are there than the sound found in such songs as Fogerty’s solo tune “Centerfield,” an homage to America’s great national pastime, or CCR’s “Proud Mary,” about the steamboat that keeps “rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on a river” with such grace and persistence? Just like the “Midnight Special,” the classic Creedence covered, Fogerty shined a light on a distinctive style, even when there was a bad moon rising. Make no mistake: Fogerty’s legacy lingers with us even today. His post-Creedence fictional band, The Blue Ridge Rangers, set the standard for all Americana early on. A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who rightfully earned his place within that hallowed pantheon, Fogerty created an approach that stands the test of time, and served as a template for what was to come. It’s always a rare opportunity to catch a legend in concert—and better yet, to witness one who still has so much to share. John Fogerty and His

Violent Femmes

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

In 2015, a large earthquake struck Nepal, registering 7.8 on the Richter scale. It was so powerful, it shrunk Mt. Everest. I mention this, Aries, because I suspect you will generate good fortune in the coming months whenever you try to shrink metaphorical mountains. Luckily, you won’t need to resort to anything as forceful and ferocious as a massive earthquake. In fact, I think your best efforts will be persistent, incremental, and gradual. If you haven’t gotten started yet, do so now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

We don’t know the astrological sign of the ancient Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, who ruled from 51 to 30 BCE. But might she have been a Taurus? What other tribe of the zodiac would indulge in the extravagance of bathing in donkey milk? Her staff kept a herd of 700 donkeys for this regimen. Before you dismiss the habit as weird, please understand that it wasn’t uncommon in ancient times. Why? Modern science has shown that donkey milk has anti-aging, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities. And as astrologers know, many of you Tauruses are drawn to luxurious and healing influences that also enhance beauty. I recommend you cultivate such influences with extra verve in the coming days.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

In two trillion galaxies stretched out across 93 billion light years, new stars are constantly being born. Their birth process happens in stellar nurseries, where dense clouds of gas coalesce into giant spheres of light and heat powered by the process of nuclear fusion. If you don’t mind me engaging in a bit of hyperbole, I believe that you Geminis are now immersed in a small-scale, metaphorical version of a stellar nursery. I have high hopes for the magnificence you will beget in the coming months.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

The planet Mars usually stays in your sign for less than two months every two years. But the pattern will be different in the coming months. Mars will abide in Cancer from September 5 to November 4 and then again from January 27 till April 19 in 2025. The last time the red planet made such an extended visit was in 2007 and 2008, and before that in 1992 and 1993. So what does it mean? In the least desirable scenario, you will wander aimlessly, distracted by trivial battles and unable to decide which dreams to pursue. In the best scenario, you will be blessed with a sustained, fiery devotion to your best and most beautiful ambitions.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Famous rock musicians have on occasion spiced up their live shows by destroying their instruments on stage. Kurt Cobain of the band Nirvana smashed many guitars. So did Jimi Hendrix, who even set his guitars on fire. I can admire the symbolic statement of not being overly attached to objects one loves. But I don’t recommend that approach to you in the coming weeks. On the contrary, I believe this is a time for you to express extra care for the tools, machines, and apparatus that give you so much. Polish them up, get repairs done, show them you love them. And if you need new gizmos and gear to enhance your self-expression, get them in the near future.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

In all of world history, which author has sold the most books? The answer is Agatha Christie, born under the sign of Virgo. Readers have bought over 2 billion copies of her 70-plus books. I present her as a worthy role model for you during the next nine months. In my astrological opinion, this will be your time to shine, to excel, to reach new heights of accomplishment. Along with Christie, I invite you to draw encouragement and inspiration from four other Virgo writers who have flourished: 1. Stephen King, 400 million in sales from 77 books. 2. Kyotaro Nishimura, 200 million in sales from over 400 books. 3. Leo Tolstoy, 413 million from 48 books. 4. Paul Coelho, 350 million from 28 books.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Centuries before the story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, there was a Greek myth with similar themes. It featured Persephone, a divine person who descended into the realm of the dead but ultimately returned in a transfigured form. The ancient Festival of Eleusis, observed every September, honored Persephone’s redemption—as well as the cyclical flow of decay and renewal in every human life. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to observe your own version of a Festival of Eleusis by taking an inventory: What is disintegrating and decomposing in your own world? What is ripe for regeneration and rejuvenation? What fun action can you do that resembles a resurrection?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

The coming weeks will be an excellent time to take inventory of your community and your network of connections. Here are questions to ask as you evaluate whether you have what you need or else may need to make adjustments. 1. Are you linked with an array of people who stimulate and support you? 2. Can you draw freely on influences that further your goals and help you feel at home in the world? 3. Do you bestow favors on those you would like to receive favors from? 4. Do you belong to groups or institutions that share your ideals and give you power you can’t access alone?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“Progress was all right. Only it went on too long.” Sagittarian humorist James Thurber said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Well, I am very happy about the progress you’ve been making recently—the blooming and expanding and learning you have been enjoying. But I’m guessing you would now benefit from a period of refining what you have gained. Rather than even more progress, I feel you need to consolidate and integrate the progress you have so robustly earned.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

The people of Northern Ireland have over 70 colorful slang terms for being drunk. These include splootered, stonkied, squiffy, cabbaged, stinkered, ballbagged, wingdinged, bluttered, and wanked. I am begging you, Capricorn, to refrain from those states for at least two weeks. According to my reading of the omens, it’s important for you to avoid the thrills and ills of alcohol. I am completely in favor of you pursuing natural highs, however. I would love you to get your mind blown and your heart opened through epiphanies and raptures that take you to the frontiers of consciousness.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Beginning 11,000 years ago, humans began to breed the fig. It’s the world’s oldest cultivated food, preceding even wheat, barley, and legumes. Many scholars think that the fig, not the apple, was the forbidden fruit that God warned Adam and Eve not to munch in the famous Biblical passage. These days, though, figs rarely make the list of the fruits people love most. Their taste is regarded by some as weird, even cloying. But for our purposes, I will favorably quote the serpent in the Garden of Eden: “When you eat the fig, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God.” This is my elaborate way of telling you that now may be an excellent time to sample a forbidden fruit. Also: A serpent may have wise counsel for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

The coming weeks would be an excellent time to file lawsuits against everyone who has ever wronged you, hurt you, ignored you, misunderstood you, tried to change you into something you’re not and failed to give you what you deserve. I recommend that you sue each of them for $10 million. The astrological omens suggest you now have the power to finally get compensated for the stupidity and malice you have had to endure. JUST KIDDING! I lied. The truth is, now is a great time to feel intense gratitude for everyone who has supported you, encouraged you and appreciated you for who you really are. I also suggest that you communicate your thanks to as many of your personal helpers and

as you can.

IT AUDIT ASSOCIATE:

urban LIVING

High Rises

September 11, 2001, seems like a lifetime ago. That date, burned into many of our brains, was when almost 3,000 people died and the twin towers fell in New York City.

At the time of the terrorist attack, the World Trade Center’s twin towers were the tallest buildings in NYC—1,369 feet tall and 1,362 feet tall, respectively. They were later replaced by One World Trade Center at 1,776 feet tall, which is the tallest building in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere.

Why mention this? Salt Lake City is undergoing a massive push by some to allow even taller buildings in the capital city, mostly touted as a necessary improvement to our zoning rules by the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), who are attempting to redesign and build in an integral part of downtown.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Verified information

5. “Buzz off!”

10. Kamala Harris’s middle name

14. Kinda pale

15. ___ Lumpur, Malaysia

16. Major Norse deity

17. One of Cinderella’s siblings

19. “Snail mail” org.

20. Group with 27 member states

21. Putting a curse on

23. Sources of immunity

25. ___ Brothers (former investment banking firm)

29. Phrase used for winners of vacations on game shows

33. At the back of the boat

36. Holiday song

37. Untrustworthy

38. Fought (for)

40. Modem units, back in the days of dial-up

42. Stuff in a skein

43. Street sign symbol

45. City on the Erie Canal

47. Leather shoe, for short

Currently, the residential/business project known as Astra Tower on the corner of State Street and 200 South is hovering over pedestrians at 450 feet and 40-stories tall.

But the Salt Lake City Council unanimously approved a zoning change last week that increases the maximum building height in the SEG’s sports and entertainment district—in and around the Delta Center—from a current 125 feet to 600 feet. There was one caveat, though; “Any structure that is 200 feet or taller will need to go through a design review by the Planning and Zoning Commission.”

It’s my opinion that our Planning Commission is made up of pretty tough volunteer planners who have proven in the past to have foresight as to how our city should grow, and I’m glad they will be involved in the design review.

As a planner myself for eight years with the city, we worked for more than a year, month after month, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to get the City Creek project off the ground, including not just the teardown of Crossroads Mall but the build of the retail mall on two sides of Main Street and the condo/apartment buildings surrounding it. There were a ton of variances required and rules changed to get certain aspects of the project to fruition.

You may have strong opinions about high rises filling up Salt Lake’s downtown. Depending on whether you’re pro-development or anti-growth, you probably had strong feelings about the Hines Group tearing down the historic Utah Theater at 150 S. Main Street to build an apartment tower.

Now the developer is putting a pause on the project and wants to fill in the gap on the street with a temporary parking lot until they actually launch their project and bring in the construction crews.

Hines got a sweet deal from the city’s Redevelopment Agency—“buying” the property from Salt Lake City for zero bucks in exchange for building new housing with plans for public amenities in and around the building—but have postponed plans now for two years with what they allege are the

costs of construction.

9. “Taxi” actress Henner

10. Pillsbury mascot introduced in 1965

11. Mag execs

48. Particle physics concept

51. Words after “the powers”

52. Ghostly specter

56. Sci-fi transport that’s “dimensionally transcendental”

60. “Ad ___ per aspera”

61. Home of Xenia, Youngstown, and Zanesville

64. Subject of a story where wishes come with great consequences

66. Mystic Persian poet

67. Fro-yo topping, e.g.

68. First name of the Phantom of the Opera

69. Worn out

70. Lowest possible turnout

71. Turns bad

DOWN

1. Forgoes food

2. “___ World Turns”

3. Yell for the team

4. Prepare, as a report

5. Go downhill fast?

6. Easy, like some jobs

7. Put on a scale

8. Trebek who’s the subject of recent collectible stamps

12. Big name

13. Plug-___ (software patches)

18. Plant that can be poisonous

22. Pharrell Williams group until 2018

24. Picket line crosser

26. “___ Secretary” (2010s CBS drama)

27. ___ Crag (“mountain” at the end of “Nickelodeon Guts”)

28. “Tearin’ Up My Heart” album of 1998

30. Brat condiment

31. Sonic ___ (Thurston Moore’s former band)

32. Radio playlist staple, often

33. “Halt!,” to a sailor

34. Colin of “Love, Actually”

35. ___ firma

39. Follow through on the deed, slangily

41. Garbage transport

44. Fever/Dream group?

46. Grand display

49. Where “butterfly” is “Schmetterling”

50. Peace Prize sharer

53.

54. Attribute

55. Atlanta team

57. “Alice in Wonderland” bird

58. Proto-___-European (early language)

59. Graphic for creating a Sims character

61. Spherical object

62. Color wheel choice

63. “___ little teapot ...”

65. 112.5 degrees from S

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

with Shimon

Head of tech support, perhaps

NEWS of the WEIRD

The Golden Age of Air Travel

At the busy New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan, everything came to a screeching halt on Aug. 17 after a pair of scissors went missing from a store near the boarding gates, the BBC reported. The airport canceled 36 flights and delayed more than 200 others, leaving hundreds of travelers doing repeat security checks. Flights eventually resumed, but the scissors weren’t found until the next day—at the store where they went missing. Social media users were strikingly complimentary and upbeat about the delays, though: “This incident showcased the safety of Japanese aviation,” one posted.

Unclear on the Concept

n An Applebee’s restaurant in Portage, Indiana, became the site of a scuffle on Aug. 2, USA Today reported. According to the Portage Police Department, officers responded to a report of a verbal disturbance. There they found Shawneesha Cobbs, 28, who had been loudly arguing with the store manager. Cobbs’ companions were under the impression that the restaurant’s $15.99 all-you-can-eat deal applied to the whole group, and when the manager explained that the deal was per person, Cobbs said the menu didn’t specify that. (It did.)

The rabble-rouser then verbally assaulted another couple leaving the restaurant; that’s when she was placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct.

n Jeff Daniels lookalike Mayor Benji Cranford of Thomson, Georgia, was arrested on Aug. 14 after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly supplying a bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin to prisoners on a roadside work crew, WRDW-TV reported. The indictment said Cranford bought the bottle and left it in a ditch along the path of a crew from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution. Cranford was charged with furnishing prohibited items to inmates and criminal attempt to commit a felony. He bonded out three hours later.

It’s Come to This

Students are headed back to school at H.E. Charles Middle School in El Paso, Texas, with a fresh restriction on the clothes they can wear, KVIA-TV reported on Aug. 2. Principal Nick DeSantis sent a letter to families stating that students would no longer be able to wear “black tops with black bottoms,” saying the look can be “associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality.” Sarah Venegas, executive principal for the district, backed DeSantis up: Students will be allowed to wear only blue jeans or khaki pants. Some parents don’t agree: “I don’t think we should be grouping, and red-flagging kids that just like to wear black,” said Stephanie Rascon. Mental health expert Krista Wingate suggested that educators might instead “be looking out for different signs of stress or ... anxiety.”

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Jose Marti-Alvarez of Miami Gardens, Florida, came up with a shady plan to make some dough, Florida’s Local 10 News reported. Marti-Alvarez, 55, was in court on Aug. 19 facing felony charges of running “an elaborate scheme to defraud tourists staying in the hotels of Miami Springs,” police said. He had distributed flyers to hotels near Miami International Airport, advertising “Roman Pizzeria”—a name dangerously close to Roman’s Pizzeria, which has had a loyal following in the area for four decades. Marti-Alvarez’s pizzas were delivered “bad, uncooked, sometimes in a box with a piece of raw dough,” said Jesus Roman, the real pizza man. Marti-Alvarez had been duping folks for several years, garnering bad reviews and customer complaints for the real Roman’s. Finally Roman went to the police. Marti-Alvarez was held on fraud charges, along with aggravated battery after he hit a hotel worker with his car while trying to flee.

Dastardly

Russian chess player Amina Abakarova, 40, of Dagestan could be banned from competition for life after she was accused of poisoning another player at the Dagestan Classical Chess Championship on Aug. 2, Oddity Central reported. Surveillance video captured Abakarova stopping at a table and spreading a substance on the board and pieces where her competitor, Umayganat Osmanova, 30, would soon be playing. Her behavior could have been innocent, but about 30 minutes later, Osmanova started experiencing nausea and dizziness. Doctors confirmed she had been poisoned with mercury; Osmanova ended up in the hospital. “I felt a lack of air and a taste of iron in my mouth,” she said. Abakarova confessed to using mercury from an old thermometer to soil the board, hoping to “knock her (opponent) out of the tournament.” She will likely also lose her job and may face criminal prosecution.

Animal Antics

Taboo, a 12-year-old cat from West Yorkshire, England, has made a name for herself in the neighborhood, People reported on Aug. 20. She’s a cat burglar. Taboo’s owner, Sandra Danskin, said the feline steals clothing and gardening equipment from nearby households, forcing Danskin to post them on social media to reunite them with their owners. “This morning, I had four pairs of socks and a pair of underpants,” Danskin said. “Also, we’ve had mopheads and kitchen rolls.” She suspects the kitty grabs items off laundry lines or sneaks into homes with open doors. Helpfully, she always brings both socks of a pair, carrying one at a time.

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com