City Weekly December 8, 2022

Side Effects

I’d love to see your newspaper offer some truth about the damage people have suffered as a result of the COVID vaccines. I’m one of the thousands who have experienced complications after receiving their shots.

For over a year, I’ve suffered from extreme nerve damage and inflamma tion, making it very difficult to walk and impossible to enjoy the physical activities I love, like hiking, biking and skiing. Every day, I suffer from burning pain, stabbing pain, shoot ing pain throughout my body and ex treme inflammation in my knees.

And I’m not alone. The doctor I’m currently seeing has several patients who have experienced damage, and of course there’s very little that can be done. I urge you to take the brave step in doing the research and reporting the truth about this topic.

CHRIS OWENS

Guns and Hate

In a song from the musical South Pacific, there are the lyrics that still ring true today: “By the time they’re 6 or 8 we’ve taught them how to hate.”

When the arrested and alleged murderer behind the recent at tack at a nightclub in Colorado Springs was age 15, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints softened its cruel teachings about gay members. But for all of his earlier years as a Latter-day Saint church member, along with his mother, he likely had been taught that gays were to be condemned and forbidden from the faith’s Ce lestrial heaven—especially if they physically expressed their love.

Now the church’s public relations spokesman claims the alleged shooter hasn’t been an “active” Latter-day Saint for some time. But he didn’t need to be currently active—the damage had already been done.

Each year in Utah, on average, 400 people die and 195 are injured by guns. The state’s rate of gun violence is estimated to cost Utah taxpayers roughly $6.5 billion each year, or $1,703 per person.

Congratulations to Oregon voters for passing meaningful gun control legislation. No lifesaving measures like this will ever be come law in Utah as long as white, paranoid, Mormon men are the ruling elite. Too many heads of Utah households are so foolishly proud of the number of firearms in their collections.

TED OTTINGER Taylorsville

Two McCarthys

We know of two McCarthys in our politic, Both Republicans with similar rhetoric. Of different eras but of the same ilk, Power regardless of the truth, citizens to bilk.

Joseph McCarthy, censured Wisconsin Senator, An arrogant jaundice nineteen-fifties predator. Relentless false accusations of treason, Targeting innocent citizens without reason.

Now we encounter House Representative Kevin, The California Leader with no scruples to win. Pleading with our past president for protection, Then forgiving him for our country’s insurrection!

Have you no sense of decency, you two McCarthys? Both breeders of undemocratic travesties.

GEORGE KIBILDIS

Sparta, New Jersey

Care to sound off on a feature in our pages or about a local concern? Write to comments@cityweekly.net or post your thoughts on our social media. We want to hear from you!

THE BOX

What is your favorite holiday movie?

Katharine Biele

I’ll say Miracle on 34th Street—but also be ing oppositional, I’ll say, never Elf !!

Jackie Briggs

Elf

Benjamin Wood

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Bill Frost

Die Hard. Not only is it a Christmas movie, it’s a Christmas musical. The soundtrack has “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” and, of course, “Christmas in Hollis.”

Christa Zaro

Love Actually! Nothing compares for me

Paula Saltas

Home Alone.

Skye Emerson

I’d watch Bing Crosby’s White Christmas every year with my grandfather, and he and I would (badly) sing along to all of the songs. I love the simple but important themes throughout—that hap piness comes from serving others, to always remember the love and support others have given you and to count our blessings (not sheep).

Annie Quan

I love cheesy rom-coms during the holidays. I will put on The Holiday, Love Actually or You’ve Got Mail while decorating or cooking, and it makes me so happy.

Cottonwood Heights

Walking the Walk

“You must walk like a camel, which is said to be the only beast which ruminates when walking.”

—Henry David Thoreau

Iwalk two or three miles on most days. The distance varies. No electronic gizmo registers how much ground I cover or how many steps I take. A power walk it is not.

Rather, I engage in what Thoreau called “the art of Walk ing.” I follow in his footsteps—so to speak—but at a camel’s plodding pace.

I have a few elliptical routes. They overlap like a Venn di agram such that my house is the hub. Some walks intersect mountain streams—Parleys, Emigration and Red Butte— in which I monitor water levels.

I am always hoping to glimpse a cutthroat trout hold ing in a pool, but I never do. However, my interest in ur ban raptors was rewarded this year by a family of Cooper’s hawks nesting nearby.

Besides the nest, my walking circuits pass seven coffee shops and a dozen Little Free Libraries mounted on frontyard monopods. Books and coffee attract me as a bird feed er draws a hawk.

I confess I am not so much a Thoreau-inspired ruminant as I am an observer. I take note of endangered monarch but terflies—and the milkweed their life cycle depends upon— but I don’t spend a lot of time pondering the cause of this year’s upsurge of black widow spiders and grasshoppers. Neither do I dwell on the goat heads I find thumbtacked to the soles of my shoes (although I’ve considered carrying a bottle of Round-Up to poison the tire-puncturing plants en croaching on the sidewalk.) Also short-lived is the urge to report ice-covered sidewalks to city hall when walkers are put at risk by those who refuse to clear the snow.

To walk the city streets is to make your way through the understory of an urban forest (“urban forest” having the jarring effect of oxymoron). Although its streets are hard scaped in asphalt and concrete, Salt Lake City manages an inventory of 85,000 trees. The bronzed leaves on many of them last summer evinced the double whammy of drought and heat. Many trees succumbed. Their removal by city workers changed the face of the land noticeably, but I have learned to take the long view, mindful that some of what I observe is a snapshot of change in progress. Twenty-five years from now, the crowns of replacement trees will be tray no evidence of today’s chainsaw and stump grinder.

On the other hand, a sidewalk draws attention to itself as the topmost stratum of land-use history. Some stretches of sidewalk I walk served as roadbeds of trains and trolleys in the early 1900s. One route puts a remnant of the 19thcentury Jordan and Salt Lake Canal under foot. Another crisscrosses the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway in 1913. All are just a long walk from a prehistoric shoreline. I like to think that sidewalks are palimpsestic, in that they disclose previous uses of the land to the reader of historical markers, or to the observer with an attentive eye.

A layering of history under the concrete might raise an area’s walkability quotient, if such a holistic, perfectly nu anced metric could exist. Some scores can account for dis tance to groceries, bus stops and bike lanes. But what of the ineffable criteria that make neighborhoods fit for walking?

The prevalence of Little Free Libraries or patches of AstroTurf? The ratio of pollinator gardens to gravelly xe riscapes? Traffic-calming road designs with bike corri dors like on 600 East? The number of people who clear the snow-covered sidewalks of neighbors who don’t?

One certain factor is color because Utah’s green-is-good lawn ethos is in flux. In a culture that has equated brown grass with the sin of sloth, a carpet of bluegrass betokened virtue. No longer. The drought has upended that.

BY JOHN RASMUSON

Nowadays, a browning lawn is as much an indicator of civic-mindedness as having a Tesla in the driveway and solar panels on the roof.

Walkability is affected by Utah’s elected officials to some extent or another. The governor prays for rain; the Legis lature “saves” the Formerly Great Salt Lake with a flood of dollars; the congressmen hold forth on Fox News; and the mayor of the capital city plants 3,000 trees. Mayor Erin Mendenhall is reforesting the west side of Salt Lake City at the rate of 1,000 trees a year—welcome news for walkers.

The mayor is also taking steps to upgrade the walkabili ty in the heart of the city. She proposes closing Main Street between South Temple and 400 South to facilitate walking. The four-block stretch has been tested as a car-free zone on summer weekends since 2020.

It’s popular with the Downtown Alliance: Pedestrian traffic generates walk-in customers. Closing Main Street to cars is such a forward-looking idea, I worry that like other popular initiatives, it may attract the meddlesome We Know Best Caucus of the Utah Legislature. Remember its treatment of marijuana? Redistricting? COVID-19?

The politicization of the coronavirus public health crisis is an indelible memory. I will also remember the effect on walkers. The bleak days of the pandemic brought more pe destrians and fewer cars to the streets.

The neighborhoods were quieter, and the air was cleaner. Masked walkers gave a wide berth of social distance when passing one another. The antisocial precautions brought a James Taylor lyric to mind: “Well, any other man stops and talks, but the walking man walks.”

To have “stop-and-talks” restored and smiles unmasked is most welcome. To have a mayor making good on a prom ise to “transform a community one tree at a time” is even more so. CW

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

HITS&MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE @kathybiele

MISS: No Good Deed

Is anybody listening? Or more to the point, is anybody breathing out there? For sure, it’s not our attorney general. Mr. Partisan—Sean Reyes—felt it was more important to join his Republi can counterparts in a fight against “environmental activism” in the stock market, rather than on the imminent environmental destruction at home. He wants federal regulators to look at how the investment firm Vanguard did shocking things like pressure utilities to publish climate disclosures, accord ing to The Salt Lake Tribune. While the Great Salt Lake shrinks and inver sions threaten the health of Utahns, Reyes worries that Vanguard will “re duce global greenhouse gas emissions through their investments.” But Reyes is not one to worry about Utah, per se. It was also reported that he accepted a fun invitation to the Qatar games, you know, because he advised them on hu man trafficking.

MISS: Business Casual

UDOT is looking less and less like a public agency and more like a friend of business interests. We have already seen how it handled the Cottonwood Canyons gondola issue by taking public comment and then ignoring it. Now it’s paving its way to the Parleys quarry be fore it has been approved by the state. Oh, and it did so without informing the affected community. “I regret a lot of this,” UDOT regional director Robert Stewart told The Salt Lake Tribune, not ing that had it been a UDOT project, “we would go out and canvas the neigh borhoods and talk to interested stake holders and develop a plan with them. When it comes to an encroachment permit, that is not part of the overall process.” It’s unclear who really likes this project because it’s not the neigh borhood, the county or Salt Lake City.

HIT: Farm Wrestling

Utah’s media outlets have bent over backward as they try to spare the feelings—and the livelihood—of Gov. Spencer Cox. You could tell that The Salt Lake Tribune really didn’t want to say what had to be said: “Alfalfa, for all its benefits, sucks up way too much of the one thing Utah does not have enough of. Water.” Instead, the reluc tant Tribune editorial began its argu ment this way: “It is not that alfalfa is evil.” For years, the governor has been walking a tightrope as he tries to hail the farming industry, acknowledge the environmental problems and not destroy the business from which he prospered. It was only last year that the Trib ran a story about how farms could actually save the Great Salt Lake and the problem was really urban growth. All those things are true. So is the edi torial and numerous studies that show the hearty and reliable crop, alfalfa, is just an unreasonable water suck.

ON THE STREET

Let It Snow

Despite being constantly reminded by the “well, actually … ” crowd that it is technically still autumn, it certain ly feels a lot like winter in Salt Lake these days. With me, it’s always the first substan tial snowfall in the valley—like the 3 or so inches we got the last few days of Novem ber—that moves me from pumpkin spice to peppermint.

While many residents opt to partake in the assortment of winter sports up in the canyons or ski resorts, my favorite winter activities are a little more unusual. I en joy taking aerial photography of ordinary sights—rooftops, golf courses, railway yards—and document how differently they look under snow.

My current obsession is shooting over head photos of roundabouts. Although they are sources of anxiety for some Utahns, to me the vehicle patterns around these cir cular traffic calming devices look so serene from above. The most interesting one I’ve seen is also, arguably, the most frustrat ing: the trio of roundabouts located near 2300 East at the Interstate 80 access ramps (above). No doubt drivers have dif ficulty appreciating its geometric beauty when they are concentrating so hard on getting through the gauntlet unscathed.

Another one of my weird winter interests is tallying up all the snowmen and snow women I spot around town. It probably will come as a surprise to most, but snow people are actually very scarce. I chalk it up to kids these days having more activi ties and distractions, but maybe it’s always been that way and this is just a case of rosy retrospection.

Anyway, you can imagine my excitement when I happened to stumble upon a village of snowpeople at the south steps of the Utah State Capitol at 300 N. State about two years ago (below). Afterward, I learned that it was all part of a protest advocating for carbon pricing to help mitigate climate change.

The takeaway was simple: don’t take the snow for granted, as you never know when it might melt away for good. CW

theESSENTIALS

Pioneer Theatre Company: A Christmas Story: The Musical

For nearly 40 years, audiences have found a con nection to the story of Ralphie Parker, the young protagonist of the 1983 film A Christmas Story From its annual marathon presentation on cable TV to this year’s follow-up A Christmas Story Christmas, it’s one of those rare pop-culture tales that has stood the test of time, anchored in the charm of author Jean Shepherd’s nostalgic reflections on his 1940s Midwestern childhood. The appeal of that story was further proven by the development of a 2012 Broadway musical version of A Christmas Story, which featured songs by the soon-to-be-ubiquitous team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, The Greatest Showman). Thanks to that beloved story, the bones of this musical version are certainly strong. It still focuses on the holiday season of 1940, where young Ralphie wants nothing for Christmas more than he wants a Red Ryder air rifle. But while the familiar refrain of “you’ll shoot your eye out” lingers in the popular consciousness, the emotional connections provide the perfect stuff for musical accentuation—the response of Ralphie’s mother to his profanity-filled attack on bully Scut Farkus, or the special Christmas morning surprise provided by Ralphie’s Old Man.

A Christmas Story: The Musical visits Pioneer Theatre Company at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre (300 S. 1400 East) Dec. 9 – 24, with showtimes Monday – Thursday 7 p.m., Friday – Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $48 - $72 advance purchase, $53 - $77 at the door. Visit pioneertheatre.org to purchase tickets and for addi tional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

BW PRODUCTIONS

Bill Burr @ Maverik Center

Comedian Bill Burr can claim a number of impressive accolades, among them his Emmy and Grammy Award nominations, his frequent television, film and live performances, plus the popular Bill’s Monday Morning Podcast His current tour—“Bill Burr (Slight Return)”— recently made history when Burr became the first comedian to perform at Boston’s famed Fenway Park. His critically-acclaimed Netflix special Bill Burr: Live at Red Rocks (pictured)— his sixth stand-up special overall—and his free streaming series Bill Burr Presents: Immoral Compass also attest to his work ethic, which apparently stands in stark contrast to his admission that he wasn’t a high achiever in school. One would never know that given all he’s achieved since.

He recently completed production on the film Old Dads, for which he co-wrote, directed and serves as one of its stars. That’s in addi tion to the animated series F Is For Family (now in its fifth and final season on Netflix), his recurring role as Mayfeld in the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian, and a steady stream of late-night talk show appearances. That said, his admittedly ill-tempered,

politically incorrect attitude affirms an unapol ogetic approach. He once shared this anecdote about his time working in a warehouse: “If my boss gave me a rough time, I could just get on a forklift and just, like, drive away.” These days however, he’s clearly here to stay.

Bill Burr performs at the Maverik Center (200 S. Decker Lake Dr, West Valley City) at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. Tickets cost $55 - $90.50. Go to Ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

“Sing With Maria”

The Sound of Music @ Broadway Centre Cinemas

It might have seemed easy enough to transfer movie-viewing to an at-home thing dur ing these pandemic years, but some movie options just call for a collective experience. Imagine, for example, sitting in front of your TV throwing toast at the screen while watch ing The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Not quite the same, now, is it?

So even if you’ve seen The Sound of Music many times before as a holiday family tradi tion, you’re still in for something completely different with the Salt Lake Film Society’s interactive “Sing With Maria” screening of the classic 1965 film. In addition to enjoy ing the tale of young would-be nun Maria and her adventures with the Von

Trapp family in Nazi-era Austria, you’ll get to join in the experience of singing along to beloved tunes like “Do Re Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “16 Going on 17,” the title song and more. The event also features a costume parade and contest based on audience vote, pre-show entertainment, and a treat during the 20-minute scheduled intermission of tea and cookies. More than just an outing to the movies, it’s a community celebration of music, entertainment and making it clear how much Nazis suck.

“Sing With Maria” The Sound of Music runs for two showings at the Broadway Centre Cinemas (111 E. 300 South) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, and include a prop bag, collectible sticker and button; no outside props are per mitted. Visit slfs.org/soundofmusic/ for tickets and additional event information. (SR)

Still Confessing

After 20 years, Steven Fales’ autobiographical story of a gay Mormon experience still resonates.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

In 2001, writer/actor Steven Fales pre miered his one-man show Confessions of a Mormon Boy at the Rose Wagner Cen ter on Thanksgiving weekend. Twenty-one years later, he returned to the same stage on the same weekend—and the experience was surprisingly emotional.

“I broke down crying during previews at the Sunday matinee,” Fales says by phone from his home in Palm Springs. “The show was coming back together, and I thought, ‘This show changed my life. I think it saved my life.’”

Fales is celebrating a slightly pandemicdelayed 20th anniversary of Confessions of a Mormon Boy, which chronicled Fales’ own experience coming out as gay while he was a married-with-children member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But he’s also bringing along two subse quently-written chapters in his personal story: Missionary Position , which addresses his LDS church mission in Portugal; and Prodigal Dad , dealing in part with a sincesettled court case in which his ex-wife ac cused him of child abuse. The three shows will play in repertory this month, following previews of the individual shows.

Back in 2001, Fales recalls contemplat ing doing a theatrical version of his story; “I was walking in New York and thought, ‘If you dare to write this, it will succeed.’ When you get this inspiration, you have to follow through with it.” The show was certainly a risky proposition—and not just because of its subject matter. Fales’ ex-wife was Emily Pearson, and his ex-mother-inlaw celebrated LDS writer Carol Lynn Pear son.

“I was living in New York at the time, and I thought, ‘I’m going to premiere it in Salt Lake,’” Fales says. “‘If I can do it there, I can do it anywhere.’ I was so scared; the Church was right there, and I didn’t know what kind of backlash I would get, bringing it to the fanbase of Carol Lynn Pearson.”

“This was before The Book of Mormon ,” Fales adds. “I hate to toot my horn, but I think it’s factual: I think I was the first gay Mormon to tell his story in any kind of mainstream, main-stage way.”

The show turned out to be a smashing success, however, and Fales subsequently took Confessions of a Mormon Boy off-Broad way and around the world. What he discov ered throughout his travels is that despite his story being about a “Mormon boy,” it connected with people who had their own experiences coming out in other faith tra ditions. “In South Africa, all the Dutch Re form boys would come, and say it’s their story,” Fales says. “When you’re doing it for the Mormons, you know it’s recognized. When you’re in Oslo, for the Muslim immi grants who escaped from Karachi that are in the audience? It proves that if we go in with specificity, it translates to universal ity. … I didn’t have to spoon-feed anybody or water anything down.”

There were still more stories to tell, as it turned out, with Missionary Position premiering in Los Angeles in 2009, and Prodigal Dad following in 2014. They’re also emotional, personal stories, dealing hon estly with issues like his experience as a

sex worker. But for Fales, the performances themselves aren’t cathartic in the same way that actually getting the stories down was. “I have an MFA in acting; I can leave it right there [on the stage],” he says. “It’s the writing of a new piece that scares you to death or challenges you.”

That writing part is done how, however, leaving time to reflect on what has changed over the course of the past 21 years. When asked how the personal experiences Con fessions of a Mormon Boy trilogy might have played out differently if they were unfolding in an era of marriage equality and greater queer visibility, Fales begins— characteristically—with a bit of humor: “Today, instead of a play, it would have been a bunch of TikTok things, fragments, and I might have a million followers.”

But ultimately, he acknowledges that, sadly, the world he encountered while coming out and sharing his Confessions two decades ago hasn’t changed nearly enough, making the shows still all-toorelevant. “You can never be a married gay person in the Mormon church,” Fales says. “I think excommunication might be done

less because I told my story. My family is completely recalcitrant, even after all these years. My father has come to the show, my mother has seen it, and they’re still toe ing the line. And it’s the old line. It hasn’t changed. There isn’t a place for us. There wasn’t 20 years ago, and there isn’t now.

“So you have to forge ahead and decide, ‘What do I create for myself?’ I’m here to model that. … I want to empower everyone to tell their story.” CW

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY TRILOGY

Rose Wagner Center Black Box 210 E. 300 South

Missionary Position previews Dec. 9-11

Prodigal Dad previews Dec. 16-18

Repertory performances Dec. 20-22 Dec. 23 full trilogy at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $20 arttix.org

JOHN SKALICKY

GiftGuide

Savoring the Season

Bracing for a holiday shopping slog? The 2022 City Weekly gift guide is here to help.

December 2022 is here at last, and big, loud, festive gatherings are back! … Yay?

I f you’re anything like us, it’s been a couple years since we had a real holiday season, with 2020 forever marked by a COVID asterisk and 2021 a scaled-back, tentative step back into new-normalcy.

That ain’t this year. This year we’re out of excuses and back to full capacity—with germy nieces and nephews; mothers-in-law who insist we should be eating more, or less, or both; office white elephant pools; and fresh election results ready to be debated endlessly by your uncle who does his own “research” online (yes, Virginia, there are Democratic voters in Arizona).

Plus, literally everything is expensive this year, our air quality is entering its net-poison phase, and—you know—it’s damned cold outside. But shake the dust off your tablecloths and polish the silver, for in 2022, there will be feasts and fights, parties and packages, carols and criticisms and a cacophony of noise, noise, noise!

If I sound a little Grinchy, I’ll own it. I dislike shopping and

loathe gift-giving. So, it was with some reluctance (and a little petty griping) that I took on the reins of the 2022 Salt Lake City Weekly Gift Guide, my first since joining this paper as its news editor, and this paper’s first since 2019. Luckily, I had a lot of help.

Rather than an exhaustive list of local retail items, we asked our writers to ponder the gift-giving mood of 2022 and look for generous ways to help us get back out into a world we were compelled to retreat from. What’s a good gift for friends we haven’t seen IRL in years? What gifts help bring people togeth er over a cozy drink or for a game (even if they root for the opposing team), or even a live performance? Which gifts might you treat yourself to and beef up your urban credentials?

We hope these suggestions can supplement, or even inspire, your own ideas. We wish our Utah retailers the best during this critical season and encourage all who read these pages to shop local to the degree you are able. And stay safe out there—these roads are no joke.

Where Santa Shops

Ditch the big box store and check out the treats and treasures of boutique shopping.

BY MIKA LEE | comments@cityweekly.net

Looking for a locally crafted gift? No, not those from the touristy gift shops where even Santa loses count of how many different fonts you can use to screenprint “Salt Lake City.” These featured shops and boutiques have assembled tasteful and compelling gift collections—they have just what you need to create the perfect Utah holiday basket.

Atelier

In 2017, owners Malinda Fisher and Olivia Henrie opened their doors in downtown Salt Lake City as curators of locally made goods, all in one cute shop. Located on Pierpont, this trendy boutique inspires shoppers to peruse the array of lifestyle items on their shelves. The shop offers the most unique, gift able items for just about anyone.

With something for everyone, it’s difficult to choose only a few. “We’ve created some gift sets this season,” says Fisher, noting that selected items are designed to pair perfectly. Options are endless. Why wouldn’t your bestie want a self-care gift box? Does your new MIL need quirky serving utensils and a hand-printed tea towel for her rustic kitchen? Atelier is the market for you.

337 Pierpont Ave., SLC, 801-410-0953, atelierslc.com

Animalia

A visit to Animalia should be intentional and delib erate. If you’ve unearthed this shop, you’ve found a gem on 900 South. Buyers who shop here are conscientious customers who care about quality, char acter and supporting someone’s passion—all while caring for the planet.

Holiday gifts from this shop can be simple yet also impart a meaningful story and be worthy of attention. Animalia gifts are reusable, sustainable and in packaging that’s recyclable. “We can adapt to any budget and personality,” says Emma, cofounder of Animalia, “ ... it’s very personal.” Check out Animalia and don’t forget to bring your food waste to their drop off and your reusable containers to fill with your favorite soaps and lotions.

280 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-521-4425, animaliaslc.com

Thyme and Place

The pandemic sparked new and improved hobbies for many of us. Those who discovered their green thumbs while “hunkering down” may now have a weakness for shops featuring all things green and gorgeous. If a plant from a home improvement store simply won’t do, Thyme and Place is for you.

Ask Melinda Meservy—plant expert, owner and operator—who has bushels of indoor houseplants at her botanical boutique. She travels to the West Coast to bring leafy pots back for Utahns to enjoy.

Not only do her plants have character, but she offers ornamental accessories to spruce up homes and offices and free gift wrapping for holiday pur chases. Redefine your home by planting new roots.

362 E. 900 South, SLC, 385-381-9216, thymeandplaceshop.com

Salt & Honey Market

Last-minute shopping is overwhelming, especially when there are several people on your holiday-

cheer list. Enter Salt & Honey, the largest local market in Salt Lake City. With rotating vendors, each season brings a unique shopping experience.

Crafts, jewelry, self-care, decor … treasures for all ages and genders can be found here. The store is sorted by maker/producer and each display is re filled weekly.

With two giant floors of specially handcrafted items, you can get lost for hours pondering which items to purchase for your friends and family (or for yourself!) this holiday season.

926 E. 900 South, SLC (pictured), and at Fashion Place Mall, 6191 S. State, Ste. 1980, Murray, 801-382-9316, saltandhoneymarket.com

Jolley’s Gifts & Floral

Christmas market dreams are made at Jolley’s.

If you haven’t been to this local favorite, this is a must-stop-and-shop destination for holiday gifts.

The vibe is traditional but with just enough eccen tricity that you’re sure to find that conversation starter.

Every inch of Jolley’s is covered in home decor, clothing, books, entertainment and more. The many staff will help you find just what you need for this holiday.

For the “bestest” parents who crave experiences with their young ones, this charming shop offers beautiful advent calendars, cheerful novelty orna ments and candies for stocking stuffers. You, too, will feel like a child on Christmas at Jolley’s.

1676 E. 1300 South, SLC, 801-582-1600, jolleysgifts.com CW

Atelier Animalia

Jolly’s Gifts & Floral

Atelier

Salt & Honey

Thyme and Place

COURTESY

PHOTO

Out of the Box

Break out of the mold with an atypical gift.

Gifts are great, but memories can last a lifetime. As you head out to shop for your loved ones, consider the gifts of a new experience, an indulgent night out or a practical improvement. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Chef Katie Weinner’s Culinary Classes

Private events and pop-ups, oh my! Throughout the year, private chef Katie Weinner hosts culinary classes/demonstrations and pop-ups for small groups of 4-10 people in an old school-turned-club house. Explore molecular and mocktail gastrono my (Nutella powder, smoke gun fun, fruit caviars), international curries, exotic ingredient tastings (finger limes, edible perfumes, sea asparagus salt) and funky cheeses and chocolates.

Connect at Katiewcook@yahoo.com or message on Instagram @SLCPOP

Dinner in the Viking Yurt

Imagine savoring six courses of fine Nordic dining in a mountaintop Viking yurt. A snowcat-drawn sleigh takes you up 1,800 vertical feet, offering spectacular views of Park City and the mountains at dusk.

Music from a baby grand piano serenades throughout the evening while guests enjoy a thoughtfully executed meal by candlelight—on pewter dishware, naturally.

1345 Lowell Ave., Park City, 435-615-9878, din ner service daily at 6 p.m. Reservations required: thevikingyurt.com

Dog Sledding at Rancho Luna Lobos

Fernando and Dana Ramirez, along with their five

children, have dedicated their lives to dogs. Fer nando began dog mushing as a kid and has passed his passion onto his own family, who train rescue dogs to become professional racers.

Does a friend or loved one want to know how to drive a dog sled and work with dogs? Give them the gift of the Musher Program. Or you can book a dog sled tour in both winter and summer months.

4733 W. Browns Canyon Road, Peoa, 435-783-3473, lunalobos.com

Work Out Your Rage at Smash It

Yell, throw and break some stuff in a safe environ ment—wearing safety gear (provided), of course. There is something indescribably therapeutic about demolition and destruction, amiright?

We all know someone who could use the gift of rage release! Fill up the box of smash-ables, pick the tool of choice and let it fly.

1154 S. 300 West, SLC, 801-690-3758; 3109 Washington Boulevard, Ogden, 801-690-0578, smash-itragerooms.com

Outdoor Adventure Tours

In winter months, take a wagon ride pulled by a team of Percheron draft horses through twinkling Christmas lights. In warmer weather, enjoy guided horseback tours (private rides available) or learn how to fly fish with a skilled guide on some of the most beautiful rivers around.

Rocky Mountain Outfitters, 633 W. Soldier Hollow Drive, Midway, 435-654-1655, rockymtnoutfitters.com

Physiq Body Sculpting

Know someone who has an unwanted muffin top or

bat-wing arms that continue waving after the wave has ended? Treat them to the non-invasive tech nology STEP—Sequential Thermal and Electrical Pulse—that with muscle stimulation can get rid of stubborn fat cells through the lymphatics.

What makes this gift even better? Customers can treat up to four areas of their body in a little more than a half hour.

Femme Moderne Aesthetics, 807 Pioneer Road, Ste. 5, Draper, 801-980-0788, femmemoderneaesthetics.com

Overnight Glamping at Conestoga Ranch

If camping in a covered wagon (up off the ground) or a platform tent is your loved one’s most extreme version of “roughing it,” then glamping is probably the way to go. The rustic accomodations here have electricity, heat and a private campfire patio.

Views of Bear Lake, an onsite restaurant, near by hiking trails and complimentary cruiser bikes make this camping overnighter a dream.

427 N. Paradise Parkway, Garden City, 844-464-5267, conestogaranch.com

Hit the Bull’s-eye at Rocky Mountain Axe Throwing

Perfecting the art of hitting the bull’s-eye is an entertaining way to share a unique experience among friends or a fun twist on a date night.

At Rocky Mountain Axe Throwing, groups of 2 to 40 people can participate via general admission or by reserving any of four axe-throwing bays on the website.

Participants must sign a waiver—in advance— and wear closed-toe shoes to be admitted.

8496 S. Harrison St., Ste. 115, Midvale, 801-890-7855, rockymountainaxethrowing.com CW

AIMEE L. COOK | comments@cityweekly.net

Answer the call of the wild with a dog sled adventure at Rancho Luna.

What do you want for Christmas?

It’s a terrible question we’re all expected to answer. There are plenty of safe answers to trot out. We always need socks, maybe ties. Gift cards to our regular haunts are productive (and can be found at discount rates on the City Weekly Store site). Or tools, I guess? Jewelry? Fragrances?

But if you’re a Salt Laker—or for the Salt Laker in your life—you’ll need a little more muscle on the bones of your XMas list. Here are some universally beneficial items for life in our beautiful winter city.

Hive Pass

Regular readers of this newspaper may have no ticed my not-so-subtle affinity for public transit. It’s hard to remain quiet about a service that im proves your life, bolsters your health, strengthens your neighborhood and saves you money in the pro cess. Available only to those who reside within the city’s boundaries— real Salt Lakers, if you will—the Hive pass costs roughly the same as a full tank of gas ($42), meaning it need only save you one trip to the pumps every 30 days—and/or a few rounds of paid parking downtown—to offset its cost and start putting money back into your pocket.

Particularly if you live and/or work near a Trax stop—I check but one of those boxes, sigh—you may be kicking yourself for not getting one sooner. An annual Greenbike bike share membership is in cluded and, as an added incentive, I like to imag ine that every time a UTA card reader dings, some where in the state, a transit-skeptical lawmaker feels a fleeting, but acute, pinprick of pain at the base of their skull.

More information at ridewithhive.com

Neighborhood Map Stickers

Now that you’ve got a transit pass, you can start freely exploring the nooks and crannies of the city, beginning with your home neighborhood. And to help you remember where exactly your neighborhood begins and ends (I don’t know who needs to

Stocking Stuffers

Essential items for living like an SLC local.

BY BENJAMIN WOOD | bwood@cityweekly.net

hear this, but 9th & 9th is not Sugar House) check out the series of stickers ($6 ea.) created by Bryant Heath, who contributes a weekly column to City Weekly when he’s not out on foot exhaustively cataloging every square inch of land around him.

Find it at slsees.myshopify.com

Merch by Matt Crane

For a different kind of treasure map, check out the iconic artwork of Matt Crane, who does business online via the nom de Etsy HouseofCattitude.

Crane’s city landmark design is second to none and makes for a helluva T-shirt ($20-$25), but his talents go further with re-creations of City Creek Canyon, Gilgal Gardens and the Bobsled mountain bike trail ($10-$20+), or maybe a coffee mug featur ing the legendary Fun Time Kidz Care ($11)?

Find it at etsy.com/shop/HouseofCattitude

Puffy Coat

For many Salt Lakers, the question is “Should I wear my casual puffy, or my dress puffy?”

If you’ve been reluctant to get down with goose down, consider this your personal invitation from Uncle Ben. Both incredibly lightweight and incred ibly warm, most puffy coats are collapsible—often into their own pockets—making it an efficient layer you can store in a purse or bike bag and stash away once indoors and out of the cold.

Varieties abound but to really show your local stripes (pun intended) head to Utah’s own Coto paxi for their signature Fuego pullover ($275) or its less-insulated sibling, the Capa ($215). That said, in my experience, it’s worth swinging for the extra stuffing, and always remember that sunshine adds 10 degrees and the difference between 33 and 31 is more than just two.

Find it at Cotopaxi, 74 S. Main, SLC, 385-528-0855, cotopaxi.com

Orange Flags

On average, two people died on Salt Lake City

streets each month during 2022. And just four streets—1700 South, 1300 South, 400 South and State—contributed at least 11 of those deaths, in cluding that of an 11-year-old girl walking in a crosswalk on Nov. 30, 2022.

That most deadly streets list includes both cityand state-controlled corridors, so there’s plenty of blame to go around. While the scale of death and destruction is relatively quantifiable, predict able and preventable, the primary strategy to date has consisted of keeping people out of cars’ way (shouldn’t it be the other way around?) and asking pedestrians to wave garish orange flags in areas where confrontation with drivers is inevitable.

Sure, there are public flags stashed around town at key intersections, but can you really rely on that to keep you safe? I called around to local hardware stores and couldn’t confirm any with orange hand flags in stock, but Marshalls Industrial Hardware on the west side sells orange yard flags with a 21inch stake for 18 cents a pop. You could buy them in bulk and attach them to anything that might rea sonably have to cross State Street: your bike; your scooter; your backpack; your friends; your pets; your children; your grandmother. The potential need is truly endless.

Find it at Marshalls Industrial Hardware, 2210 W. California Ave., SLC, 801-978-0555, marshallshdw.com

Straw Hat from Fisher Brewing

Maybe winter’s not your jam? No judgment. For the Salt Laker anxiously awaiting spring, stoke the flames of their excitement with Fisher Brewing’s straw hat ($38). Come summertime, when the temperatures climb and the inverted smog layer gives way to a mist of arsenic dust, you’ll be ready to rock and keepin’ it cool with your personal shade-mak er, a cozy piece of headwear that sure pairs well with a pint. Cheers!

Find it at Fisher Brewing Co., 320 W. 800 South, SLC, 801-487-2337, fisherbeer.com CW

BENJAMIN WOOD

The Fuego pullover from Cotopaxi is a distinctively local cold-weather favorite.

Be prepared for summer fun with a straw hat from Fisher Brewing.

BENJAMIN WOOD

Get where you need to go with a Hive Pass, but only if you live in Salt Lake City.

BENJAMIN WOOD

No need to worry about bringing the perfect par ty beer to your festive events—we’ve got you covered. Read below to find out about some of the great local brews fit for drinking this holiday sea son, for which occasions and to get a heads up on what message you’ll likely be sending to your loved ones while imbibing.

Gingerbread Big Bad Baptist by Epic Brewing

Dessert beers modeled after actual desserts can be a bit much, but this cookie-spiced beer couldn’t be more balanced and palatable. And you’ll likely agree, this Big Bad Baptist tastes like “the reason for the season.”

When you’re drinking it: On Christmas Eve, decorating an actual gingerbread house or the tree, or cutting up paper snowflakes. Maybe to warm up with after sledding, or to cuddle up with while watching Elf.

What you’re saying to your family: A sincere and totally unironic “be of good cheer.’” Whole some vibes only here.

Epic Brewing Co., 825 S. State, SLC, 801-906-0123, epicbrewing.com

Orange Stick Big Bad Baptist by Epic Brewing

Pass off a big old drink as merely a festive little drink with the Orange Stick-flavored Big Bad Baptist. Epic’s high and heavy limited line comes across like a dry, bitter cacao treat here, and is “moreish” just like a bar of dark chocolate.

When to drink it: Crack this open for Christmas

Raise a Glass

Local brews to keep things merry and bright.

BY ERIN MOORE | comments@cityweekly.net

brunch—to share. And if you’re not on the darkbeer-for-brunch train, get on it.

What you’re saying: After a taste of this 12.3% brew, you’re going to be feeling the spirit and might start chatting about your favorite holiday things, like actual Orange Sticks and haunting stories like The Little Matchstick Girl (in which orphans get one single orange to share for Christmas), which might lead you to wondering out loud if you shouldn’t track down a Victorian orphanage to go do some charity for—like, right now.

Epic Brewing Co., 825 S. State, SLC, 801-906-0123, epicbrewing.com

Pomegranate Berliner Weisse by T.F. Brewing

Bright, fruity—but complex, craft lovers will adore this sour, and wine fans will appreciate it because it gives off a crisp vibe not unlike some prosecco.

When to drink it: Peppy, pink-ish and festive, it’s perfect for a pre-dinner event on Christmas Eve when people are first gathering and need to loosen up their lips.

What you’re saying: With that first-drink glow, it says how much you love and appreciate the peo ple sipping alongside you—your night has just started, and all your friends are here.

T.F. Brewing, 936 S. 300 West, SLC, 385-270-5972, tfbrewing.com

Imperial Mole Porter by Bewilder Brewing

A richer take on Bewilder’s Mole Porter, this version is aged in tequila and mezcal barrels, richly

spiced with traditional mole spices, including chipotle, cinnamon, cacao, vanilla and mulato and pasilla negro peppers. And in about the same amount of time it takes you to read that label, you’ll find each flavor blooming onto your palate.

When to drink it: As quickly as the cinnamon starts to tickle your sinuses, you’ll be wanting to put on some party music and turn a gentle holiday gathering into a real banger.

What you’re saying: “Mole was made to be brewed into a beer.”

Bewilder Brewing, 445 S. 400 West, SLC, 385-528-3840, bewilderbrewing.com

Triple Brett Oak Aged Dark Lager by T.F. Brewing

Aged on Montmorency cherries, this delightful la ger carries a slightly musty fruitiness that’s some where between cider and orange natural wine, thanks to the spike of tart cherry essence. It’s just begging to be paired with a charcuterie board at your New Year’s Eve party. This fantastic limited release really is the star of the show—or rather, the Christmas tree.

When to drink it: When you need to pop a cork off something at the strike of midnight!

What you’re saying: If this does end up being your cork-popper for the evening, you might be past the point of saying anything clever. So raise your glass and say something silly and joyful, like “here ye’ beer ye!’”

T.F. Brewing, 936 S. 300 West, SLC, 385-270-5972, tfbrewing.com CW

ALLANAH BEAZLEY

Utah’s local brewers have plenty of party-ready flavors to try at your next holiday get-together.

Holiday Hoops

Celebrate the success of local teams or cheer on your World Cup favorites.

BY MATT PACENZA | comments@cityweekly.net

Terrific gifts abound for the sports fans on your list. A great experience is always a great present, so let’s start with tickets for a pair of surprising Utah teams.

Utah Jazz Tickets

Last summer, after several years of dis appointing playoff losses, the Jazz un loaded quicker than a poorly paid, double-parked Amazon truck driver. New team boss Danny Ainge traded star center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves and dynamic shooting guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleve land Cavaliers.

Jazz fans lamented the losses, but in return, the hometown team received seven first-round draft picks, plus a col lection of role players who might, just maybe, be useful now if you were feel ing optimistic.

Well, kids, optimism was warrant ed! Most professional prognosticators picked the Jazz to have one of the worst records in the NBA this year. Wrong! The new-look Jazz roared out to a 10-3 record to start the season. The team has come back to Earth lately—14-12 at press time—but remains an explosive, high-scoring squad, led by new coach Will Hardy and Finnish big man Lauri Markkanen (aka Lauri Bird.)

Catch a Jazz game! However, you might want to skip the merch. The Jazz underwent a “rebranding” this season and the resulting yellow, black, white and purple jerseys are unspeakably bad. Garish colors, huge letters, un imaginative design. Come on, Jazz. You clearly can pick a coach and a lineup— now, let’s pick a graphic designer.

Utah Jazz, Vivint Arena, 301 S. Temple, utahjazz.com

UofU Women’s Basketball Tickets

Last year, the Utes made their first ever Pac-12 championship game and landed their first berth in the NCAA tourna ment in 11 years. This year, the Utes are even better.

The team has blasted out to a 7-0

start, beating a trio of major conference teams, including a 46-point whip ping of the Oklahoma Sooners at home. The young women Utes are currently ranked 15th in the nation, and will soon begin competition in the always-strong Pac-12, which currently has five teams ranked in the top-25 nationally.

The Utes play in the University of Utah’s Jon M. Huntsman Center, a gem of a building, with great seats avail able for modest prices. ($10 a game for adults; $5 for teens and seniors.)

Utah Utes, Jon M. Huntsman Center, 1825 S. Campus Drive, SLC, utahtickets.com

International Soccer Jerseys

It’s time to sing the praises of Utah’s least-appreciated shopping destina tion, the Valley Fair Mall. If you haven’t been to this old-school shopping center in West Valley City, you’re missing out.

It attracts the most diverse crowds you’ll find anywhere in Utah, and has more locally owned shops than chains. You can get your quinceañera dress, visit a tailor, go to the movies and pick up affordable gifts for the sporty folks in your life, with several shops selling sneakers, caps and jerseys.

For fútbol merch, you have to check out Castro Sports, a locally owned shop in Utah for the last 14 years, which has made its home in the Valley Fair Mall for the last seven. The shop is owned by the Castro family—father and son— whose offerings include jerseys for the international teams currently compet ing in the World Cup, teams like Brazil, Mexico and the USA, as well as famed European squads like Barcelona and Arsenal, Major League Soccer clubs like Real Salt Lake and popular Mexican teams like Club América.

You’ll find all of that here, and much more, for prices that are shockingly reasonable, with many jerseys avail able for less than $30. The senior Cas tro, who declined to give his first name, told City Weekly, “We try to maintain fair prices.” Go visit them.

Castro Sports, 3601 S. 2700 West, West Valley City, 801-966-9010 CW

MATT PACENZA

Find your favorite team’s colors at Castro Sports in the Valley Fair Mall.

This Christmas, I Gave You My Art

Give the gift of creativity to find holiday peace.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW | scottr@cityweekly.net

There are many different ways to address ten sions between family members over the holidays, but do you know what one of the most effec tive can be? Sharing an experience together—and it helps when that experience is shared in silence. That’s where the gift of the arts comes in. Wheth er sitting in a theater together, finding a book that keeps someone engrossed or heading to an exhibit, you can support the creative community of Utah while also supporting your own emotional health. Here are a few pointers in the right direction.

Movies: The pandemic broke the “going out to the movies” habit for a lot of people, but two hours of silence in the dark has both aesthetic and prag matic value. Salt Lake Film Society (slfs.org) offers multiple tiered options for annual member ship to their Red Carpet Club, including $60 for multiple admission and concessions discounts, $600 for several free admissions and guest dis counts, and $1,500 that includes complimentary admission for two to any regular screening plus VIP events. If your gift recipient’s cinematic tastes run to the more multiplex conventional, Mega plex Theaters (megaplextheatres.com) offers gift cards for purchase in any amount for use at its multiple Utah locations whenever that perfect new release turns up.

Live Performance: The live theater scene in Utah is extraordinary—and so extraordinarily varied that it’s almost impossible not to find some thing that folks can enjoy together regardless of their other differences. Pioneer Theatre Co. (pioneertheatre.org) is among those that offer gift certificates in any amount, good for five years from the date of purchase (subject to seating availability). If you already know that something on this

season’s calendar looks appealing—like maybe A Christmas Story: The Musical or the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together —you can buy tickets now from $46 - $72 per seat. Hale Centre Theatre (hct.org) also offers gift certificates for perfor mances at its Sandy-based theater, and the offer ings include family-friendly favorites like Newsies, Elf: The Musical and the annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol.

For other companies offering tickets for upcoming productions, try Salt Lake Acting Co.(saltlakeactingcompany.org), Plan-B The atre Co. (planbtheatre.org) and Pygmalion Productions (pygmalionproductions.org).

And for an even wider range of options, ArtTix (arttix.org) —the ticket-selling arm for Salt Lake County facilities including the Eccles Theater, Rose Wagner Center and Capitol Theatre—also offers gift certificates in any amount, which can then be used for options like dance, Utah Symphony, tour ing Broadway productions and music headliners.

If you really want to lighten the mood, give the gift of comedy. Wiseguys Comedy Club (wise guyscomedy.com) offers gift certificates in $25 increments, good for tickets to their roster of great touring headliner comedians, plus food and drink while enjoying the show.

Literary: Never underestimate the power of a great book to provide serenity, whether for your self or for others. The King’s English Bookshop (kingsenglish.com) remains one of the great lo cally owned booksellers, and a great place to place an order if you already know what that person on your list is looking for. If you prefer to keep things more open-ended, you can get a gift card for a value from $10 - $200, which never expire or lose value.

Weller Book Works (wellerbookworks.com) is a similarly fine location to order the books you have in mind; for gift purposes, you can order an online code to make a purchase through their website. If you know someone who might like to be surprised, and you want to make an even more concerted ef fort to support the local arts community, check out the League of Utah Writers (leagueofutahwrit ers.com) to find out about Utah-based writers and shop from their online store.

Experiences: Many of Utah’s museums, galleries and arts organizations offer unique ways to share an experience, with plenty of options for time commitment and personal tastes. The Leonardo (the leonardo.org) offers several variations on its “Art Through Experience” immersive shows, on topics ranging from Van Gogh, to the Italian Renaissance, to the Impressionists; tickets are $17 - $30 per per son for the hour-long shows that teach about the works of legendary artists while surrounding you with their images. Utah Arts Alliance’s Dreamscapes (utaharts.org/en/dreamscapes) also pro vides an immersive arts experience at their San dy location, including imaginative physical and digital creations; tickets are $14.99 - $19.99 per person. The Utah Museum of Natural History (umnh.utah.edu) presents permanent exhibits with remarkable history about the peoples, ani mals and environments of this state throughout its existence, plus fascinating short-term exhibits like the current Angkor: Empire of Cambodia; all are in cluded in admission ranging from $14.95 - $19.95.

Here’s to finding joy and comfort in the beauty, insight and laughter that comes from art. And to finding unexpected connections when you share that beauty, insight and laughter with others. CW

COURTESY PHOTO

Salt Lake Film Society’s Broadway Centre Cinema is Utah’s home for independent film.

Home for the Holidays

Traveling this season? Don’t skimp on self-care.

BY ERIN MOORE | comments@cityweekly.net

Going home for the holidays can be stressful—not just because you’re removing yourself from your everyday routines but because you’re inserting yourself somewhere … different.

If you’re traveling this holiday, one thing to bring alongside the gifts you’re packing for others is the means to care for yourself. Drawing from my own ex perience visiting a boring, small town for the holidays, I’ve got some tips on how to cope by taking the comforts of home along for the ride.

Bring Your Personal Flavor

Relying on food prepared by others for several days at a time can be a chal lenge. Maybe your grandma is trying to feed you dubious leftovers, or your mom keeps forgetting that vegetarians don’t do chicken broth. Whatever it is, being your own person means you have your own habits and preferences, your own ways of doing things.

So bring your favorite snacks to give your stomach a sense of something fa miliar or volunteer to bring ingredients for a dish you know you’ll at least love at the holiday dinner, and make enough so you have some leftovers to sneak from the fridge later. When yours truly goes home, I bring the kitchen sink of ingre dients—nice bread for snacking and breakfast toast, a reliable case of craft beers to keep me out of my parents’ stash, even my own garlic and my own knife. It just feels good to have your stuff, your flavors.

Find Your People

We’re all guilty of typecasting one an other—it’s human nature to reduce each other to stereotypes. It’s espe cially easy to do with far-flung family members, such as your redneck uncle, your fitness freak SOL, your climberbro cousin … the list goes on.

But pause for a moment—they’ve got those ideas about you, too. So, surprise them. Dodge the “how’s work, family, dating, life?” questions and cut right to the cool stuff. At my family reunion, I revealed that I had a new interest in

foraging mushrooms, and it turned out my cousin who wears cowboy boots and has three kids has sparked the same interest in wild foraging. Instead of suf fering through pleasantries, we talked about herbs and medicinal fungi.

Treat your family like strangers worth getting to know even if it feels like you know everything about them.

Get Outside

Whether you’re visiting your childhood home or your family has moved some where new while you’ve been off doing your own thing, if you’re in someone else’s home for the holiday, treat it like a trip and be a tourist there. Even if it just means walking the neighborhood and exploring a park, treating even your hometown like a new place can help shake off stress.

Are there hikes in the area you’ve meant to do but never got around to? If your family lives in Utah, chances are there’s some hidden wonder within a 20-minute drive. When I’m at my child hood home, I always make a point to visit the hot springs that are currently super Instagram famous—and just minutes from my parents’ place.

Make Light of It

If you’re starting to really get bored or antsy, start a secret little drinking game out of family cliches with a cool sibling, cousin or a partner who knows your fam well enough. Every time someone complains about the thermostat’s tem perature, take a swig. Your mom holler ing for your dad to come fix something? Drink. A piece of local gossip is brought up? Big drink. Or, bring your family in on the fun and ditch the drinking.

Hallmark holiday movies are perpet ually on my mom’s TV over the holidays so, this year, I’m bringing down some homemade Hallmark trope-themed bingo cards and inviting everyone to play while we watch one (or three). This could be used for any number of tradi tional holiday movies or shows, and it’s much more engaging than just sitting and watching TV. CW

ERIN MOORE

Ease the culture shock of traveling for the holidays by bringing along your favorite foods, games and distractions.

Strange Brew

White Noise’s mix of surreal ism and sincerity shouldn’t work—but absolutely does.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Noah Baumbach’s White Noise shouldn’t work. Like, at all . I’m not speaking now in terms of its effec tiveness as an adaptation of Don DeLillo’s National Book Award-winning 1985 novel, because I can’t; the question of whether this movie does justice to a famously “un filmable” novel will have to be left to those who have actually read it. But in terms of being effective as a cinematic narrative, it mixes components that should be abso lutely volatile when placed in the same con tainer: caustic, absurdist social satire, and utterly sincere emotionalism. You can snort derisively at the way characters are behav ing, or you can feel deeply for them, but you should not be able to do both.

And yet, here we are: White Noise is a movie unicorn. It’s weirdly hilarious and hilariously weird, while poking at the things that can make relationships col lapse. Played with straight-faced determi nation by Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, the protagonists of White Noise made me laugh out loud and hope against hope that they could find happiness.

All of this takes place circa 1984, in an unnamed midwestern town that’s home to the College on the Hill. Among the fac ulty members is Jack Gladney (Driver), who teaches a celebrated course in “Hitler stud ies,” while sharing his home life with wife Babette (Gerwig) and the blended fam ily made up of their children from various previous marriages. All might seem mostly well for them, but various clouds hang over them—figuratively, in the case of their mu tual expressed fear of death, and literally,

in the case of a potentially toxic chemical plume that spreads over their town after a railroad accident.

Baumbach sets his tone quickly with the rat-a-tat, often overlapping dialogue of the Gladney family on a hectic morning; it’s the perfect way to establish the bare ly-controlled chaos of normal family life, plus a hyper-verbosity that lifts a lot of the crazy situations. But this might also rank as Baumbach’s finest work yet as a visual filmmaker. He finds the perfect pivot point between the first and second acts of White Noise with a sequence that juxtaposes one of Gladney’s crowd-pleasing lectures with the impending doom of the railroad acci dent. There’s even an oddly quiet intensity to a scene involving Jack filling up the fam ily car with gas, and bit where that same car winds up in a river that could have turned into frantic slapstick, but instead conveys a parent doing his best to hold things to gether for his family under stress.

It won’t be surprising, though, if White Noise is more memorable for its surreal jokes than for the cinematic style with which Ba

umbach surrounds them. There’s a running gag involving Jack’s insecurity over being a “Hitler studies” scholar despite being un able to speak German, and plenty of other effective skewering of academia, including Jack’s eager-to-advance colleague (Don Cheadle). In one of the more inspired bits of parody targeting institutional incompe tence, the response team to the toxic disas ter opts to use this actual disaster as a simu lation to test their readiness for the kind of actual disaster they’re dealing with. Punch lines should never be ruined, but White Noise is filled with them, generally cocked at a 45-degree angle from reality.

So how does that aforementioned ma terial feed into a kind of heartbreakingly wonderful relationship drama? That’s what evolves in the film’s third act, centered around the mystery over what kind of medication Babette is surreptitiously taking. And that mystery involves the crises, both real and imagined, that can tear at a mar riage, especially when we know from the outset that Jack and Babette have both pre viously been in marriages that did not work

out. White Noise is in some small part about a quest for easy answers to the existential terrors of modern life—as one bit of dialogue puts it, that we are “fragile creatures surrounded by hostile facts.” Baumbach’s movie slips pitch-black comedy into those hostile facts, while finding beauty in the striving of fragile creatures, who want to count on one another so much that it seems more terrifying to be alone than to be dead.

If that collision of tones doesn’t work for some folks, I totally get it. Really, it shouldn’t work. At all . Except that it does. CW

WHITE NOISE

BBBB

Adam Driver Greta Gerwig Don Cheadle Rated R

Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig in White Noise

Tidings of Food Cheer

A gift-giving guide for that special foodie on your nice list.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Shopping for a foodie usually isn’t the toughest thing in the world. Nine times out of ten, you can get by with a gift made from a tube of cookie dough and a six pack of local beer. Or one of those gigantic popcorn tins with three different flavors—that’s al ways a hit. Hell, you give me a gift card to Chuck-a-Rama and I’m going to give you a hearty slap on the ass as a thank-you. But, we know that the average City Weekly read er is a shopper of a more discern ing nature and someone who is looking to make a splash this year. So strap yourself in—we’ve plenty of great gift ideas for that foodie in your life. And if that happens to be you, just get them all for yourself! We won’t tell anyone.

For the Beer Nerd

A Brewery Tour from City Brew Tours, citybrewtours.com

City Brew Tours is all about beer educa tion and appreciation, so if you’ve got your self a buddy that geeks out about every thing brewed, malted, hopped and drunk, they’re gonna dig this one a lot. Depending on the package you sign up for, a group can visit up to four local breweries, and each visit comes with a flight of local beer pre pared special for the occasion. You’ll also be whisked away to a nearby local res taurant which will offer great seats and a meal designed to pair specifically with the breweries you’ve visited beforehand. Tours include backstage access to the exciting process of craft brewing.

For the Bookworm

The Best American Food Writing 2022 by Sohla El-Waylly and Silvia Killingsworth , kingsenglish.com

If you happen to have a buddy that likes to feast with their minds as well as their mouths, this annual anthology is a perfect stocking stuffer. Every year, the publica tion selects a guest editor who laboriously hunts for the most important pieces of food writing, criticism or journalism that were

produced over the past year. This year the anthology was assembled by Chef Sohla ElWaylly, a chef, restaurateur and YouTube personality. If you know anyone who enjoys reading about food and dining or likes to keep on-trend with the culinary world, this book will make them light right up.

For the Hopeless Sweet Tooth

The Christmas Tidings Box at See’s Candies, sees.com

Those friends who simply can’t help them selves around a box of chocolates need spe cial care. With so many waxy, sticky and downright low-quality boxes of chocolates that make the rounds during the holidays, you owe it to everyone to get that candy fan on your list The Christmas Tidings Box at a See’s Candies near you. From the festive box to the variety of brittles, nougats, cremes and truffles, this is enough to keep the candy fan in your life from wasting any time on that grocery store garbage. See’s also makes it easy to up- or down-size your order with their multitude of boxed options that it would be easy to customize this gift as needed.

For the Chef-in-Training

Classes at the Park City Culinary Institute, parkcityculinaryinstitute.com

If you’ve got a pal that loves to expand their cooking techniques but isn’t looking to quit their day job, then you’ve got to check out the recreational cooking classes at the Park City Culinary Institute. These classes cover everything from Christmas cookies to Thai street food, and some of them even add beer to the mix—for students 21 and over, of

course. Classes are reasonably priced and have enough variety to catch even the most discerning of wannabe chef’s attention.

For the Charcuterie Lover

Harvest and Honey Co., harvestandhoneyco.com

The charcuterie board has officially tak en its place as a holiday staple, and thanks to Harvest and Honey Co., you have the power to distribute these meat masterpiec es to your friends and family. Harvest and Honey whips up made-to-order charcute rie boards featuring cured meats, dried fruit, cheese, crackers and spreads that serve one to eight hungry people. I get that creating charcuterie boards has become a hobby to many holiday merrymakers, but trust me when I say this is something that must be left to the professionals. Give them a peep on Instagram (@harvestandhoney co) to see what I’m talking about.

For the Grillmaster on the Go Portable Grills

from Traeger, traeger.com

If you’ve got an outdoors-lover on your gift list and they don’t already have a por table meat grilling device, then look no further than Traeger grills. Their Tailgater grill is ideal for those whose outdoor ad ventures don’t go any further than RiceEccles Stadium during football season. But the Ranger is nice for folks who like to get a little wild and head off the grid for a few days. Traeger’s grills are among the best you can get on the market, and the portable range is where the brand’s quality and du rability really shine. CW

onTAPonTAP

2 Row Brewing 6856 S. 300 West, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

Avenues Proper 376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Proper BeerEnglish Golden Ale

Bewilder Brewing 445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap: Gluten Reduced Kolsch

Bohemian Brewery 94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches & Cream Ale

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

On Tap: Salted Caramel Porter

Desert Edge Brewery 273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap: Pomegranate Sour

Epic Brewing Co. 825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Orange Stick Imperial Stout

Fisher Brewing Co. 320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: Fisher Beer

Grid City Beer Works 333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Extra Pale Ale

Hopkins Brewing Co. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Patchwork Pale Ale

Kiitos Brewing 608 W. 700 South, SLC

KiitosBrewing.com

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com On Tap: Down The RoadWest Coast IPA Ales & Allies Game Night Tues at 6pm!

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com On Tap: Squeaky Bike Nut Brown

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com On Tap: Wet Hopped Cider

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

Ogden River Brewing 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenRiverBrewing.com On Tap: Injector Hazy IPA

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

Prodigy Brewing

25 W Center St. Logan prodigy-brewing.com/

Proper Brewing 857 S. Main, SLC ProperBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Hop BloodedBelgian-style Hoppy Red Ale

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 Redrockbrewing.com 1640 Redstone Center

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project

30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Dog Tag IPA, 2nd Tour

Roosters Brewing

Multiple Locations

RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Cosmic Autumn Rebellion

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com

On Tap: NZED - New Zealand Pilsner

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: 2 Hop 2 FuriousDouble Hopped Belgian Pale

Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com On Tap: ANXO Hereford Gold 6.9% ABV

Shades Brewing

154 W. Utopia Ave, South

Salt Lake

ShadesBrewing.beer

On Tap: Prickly Pear Sour Ale

Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George StGeorgeBev.com

Squatters 147 W. Broadway, SLC Squatters.com

Strap Tank Brewery

Multiple Locations StrapTankBrewery.com

Springville On Tap: PB Rider, Peanut Butter Stout

Lehi On Tap: 2-Stroke, Vanilla Mocha Porter

Stratford Proper 1588 Stratford Ave., SLC stratfordproper.com

On Tap: Lake Effect Gose

TF Brewing 936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Edel Pils

Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Udder ChaosChocolate Milk Stout on Nitro

Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG 2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com

On Tap: Lovely Lady Nitro Stout

Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Wasatch 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC WasatchBeers.com

Zion Brewery

95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

Zolupez

205 W. 29th Street #2, Ogden Zolupez.com

OPENING SOON!

Helper Beer 159 N Main Street Helper, UT 84526

Beer Nerd Gifting

Useful gift ideas for the beercentric person in your life

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

It can be hard to shop for the beer nerd in your life. Some beer accessories can easily wind up in the junk drawer, or forgotten in the garage. This season, I think that I’ve come up with some interesting gift ideas that will find use year-round.

Beer Gift Basket : The beer-lovers in your life will adore all the cool accessories that they’ll receive over the holidays, but let’s face it: All they really want is beer itself. In which case, give them just what they’ve been thirsting for, in the form of a beer gift basket put together by you. Most grocery and liquor stores sell singles of craft bottle and cans; just combine some favorites in a wicker basket or stylish crate, accompa nied by delicious gourmet snacks, cheeses, chocolates and more. Items can always be customized or upgraded to match the re cipient’s tastes, while adding that personal touch that will be greatly appreciated.

Fisher Brewing - Outerwear : Stylewise, there’s lots of variety—and a strong appreciation for how men and women ac tually dress day-to-day. Some breweries are bringing overly bold (and definitely ri diculous) streetwear trends back down to, well, the street, rather than reality. Some of Fisher’s brands are simply raising the bar for high-quality leisurewear and breezy va cation-appropriate duds—without raising the prices. Fisher’s flannels, hoodies and tees are highly regarded, and will show the recipient is dialed into SLC’s beer culture. 320 W. 800 South, fisherbeer.com

Beer Nut Homebrew Supply - How to Brew (book): The authoritative manual for brewing high-quality beers at home is How to Brew by John J. Palmer. This book has something for everyone, whether you

want straightforward, reliable directions for brewing your first batch of beer, or you’re an experienced homebrewer work ing with all-grain batches. Palmer expertly covers the complete spectrum of brewing options—exactly, plainly and briefly. How to Brew offers a wealth of knowledge on homebrewing techniques and recipe de velopment, covering everything from ma terials and methods to recipes and equip ment. 1200 S. State St., beernut.com

Beehive Natural Beer Soap: All of the handmade goods from Beehive Naturals— such as the goat milk soap, tea soaps, beer soaps, lotions, creams, salves, body scrubs, etc.—are DEET-free and bug repellent. The beer soap smells of hops, leather and san dalwood. These soaps are luxurious due to the high levels of sugars from the malt, which give the soap a stable and fluffy lather. These locally-crafted beer soaps can also give the soap wonderful color, and are a great topic of conversation when the question of “what’s that wonderful smell” comes up. 186 25th St, Ogden, beehive naturals.com

Epic Brewing - Six Pack Tote: Brownbagging sucks, not to mention that it’s slightly tacky and it puts your special cargo at risk of damage (or worse). Ever since I came across these beer totes from Epic Brewing, these grocery-esque car ryalls keep all of my precious babies safe while I’m out beer nerd-ing. Each tote has six stitched sleeves to keep your six pack of 22-ounce bombers or 12 pack of cans cozy during your next trip to the beach, park or bottle share. And all of this for a price that’s less than one bottle of beer. 825 S. State St., epicbrewing.com

Salt City Brew Supply - GrowlerWerks Pressurized SS Growler : Oh baby! This is a must for the serious beer nerd on your list. GrowlerWerks Pressurized Growler is a mini keg in the size of a half-gallon growl er, which keeps beer cold, fresh and car bonated for two weeks. How, you ask? It has its own CO2 regulator cap with customiz able tap handle and gauge.that will keep your cherished suds from going flat while maintaining its temperature. And the best part is the draft-style dispensing system that pours the perfect pint every time. 723 Fort Union Blvd., Midvale, saltcitybrewsupply.com

As always, cheers … and happy gifting! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Lend a Hand to Hell’s Backbone

Like many of our friends in the hospitality business, Hell’s Backbone Grill (20 UT-12, Boulder, 435-335-7464, hellsbackbonegrill.com) has been shellacked with financial woes that have mounted to a breaking point. Jen Castle and Blake Spalding, co-owners of one of Utah’s most beloved eating establishments took to social media to announce the launch of a GoFundMe campaign to help them raise enough money to reopen during next year’s season. The campaign has gone well thus far, but every little bit helps. If you’ve ever had your tastebuds tickled by the eclectic menu at Hell’s Backbone or simply wish to preserve a bit of Utah’s restaurant heritage, consider adding a few bucks to the cause.

Italian Graffiti Modern Osteria Opens

The team at Nice Hospitality, who previously brought us Central Ninth’s Snowmobile Pizza and plenty of the eateries at HallPass, recently opened a spot called Italian Graffiti Modern Osteria (156 S. 400 W., italiangraffiti. com). From early reports, Italian Graffiti looks to be shooting for high-end Italian with plenty of focus on steak, seafood and homemade pasta. We’ve seen some exciting things from Nice Hospitality recently, and they seem to be making The Gateway into its preferred base of operations—and kudos to them for ridding us of that California Pizza Kitchen that just wouldn’t go away. I’m looking forward to checking this one out next time I’m out and about.

Mar Muntanya Opens

In other Downtown restaurant news, a Spanish-inspired tapas and entrees restaurant called Mar Muntanya (170 S. West Temple, marmuntanya.com) also opened its doors. It’s got a tantalizing menu that even features a tapasstyle spin on funeral potatoes along with plenty of seafood, sausage and game meat to keep things interesting. I’m also seeing a lustrous paella on the menu that sounds like it could be shared among four people—or me and one of my friends. I tend to be a little hesitant with tapas places, but Mar Muntanya sounds like it could be the real deal. Anyone up for some paella?

Quote of the Week: “Have you ever had really good paella? It’s an orgiastic feast for the senses!” –Kramer, Seinfeld

GOODEATS Complete listings at cityweekly.net

Featuring dining destinations from buffets and rooms with a view to momand-pop joints, chic cuisine and some of our dining critic’s faves.

Makanmakan

This Sandy restaurant celebrates Asian street food by preparing a cultural potpourri of dishes from across the continent. A heaping bowl of laksa—a curry-based soup, playing with a heartier, almost stew-like texture—is a great place to start. Perhaps the most intriguing item is gulai kambing, which consists of yellow curry served with bone-in chunks of goat meat. Starter items such as Martabak telur (a square pancake stuffed with scallions, ground beef and eggs) transport the diner to a Singaporean market. The thoughtfully crafted menu allows hardcore foodies and casual diners to bond with Asian street delicacies. 33 E. 11400 South, Sandy, 801-251-0967, makanmak ansandy.com

Milt’s Stop and Eat

Blame Southern Utah’s unforgiving sun that fries your brain into making unchecked claims, but a milkshake is man’s greatest invention. And Milt’s Stop and Eat is a god send after a day of adventuring on the otherworldly red rock cliffs surrounding Moab. The place serves burgers, fries and other manna, but don’t skip out on a shake. Offer ing about 15 flavors—strawberry, coffee, Oreo, etc.—the eatery allows you to combine any two for an extra 25 cents. Not only that, but Milt’s claims to be the town’s oldest restaurant, established in 1954. So: history. 356 S. Mill Creek Drive, Moab; 435-2597424, miltsstopandeat.com

Franck’s Restaurant

If you’re craving amazing fine-dining cuisine in Holladay, head over to Franck’s. For an appetizer, the braised beets are splendid, as are the scallops. There’s a nod to France on the restaurant’s menu with three-cheese fondue, as well as New World special ties such as organic Southern-fried chicken, pan-seared sea bass and smoked duck breast and confit leg. Franck’s version of meatloaf is slowly braised pulled pork, veal and chicken in a blueberry-lavender sauce. Don’t miss out on their not-so-traditional take on steak: wagyu sirloin steak served with porcini purée, crimini mushrooms and blackberries . 6263 S. Holladay Blvd., Holladay, 801-274-6264, francksfood.com

Acapulco

Since 1991, this casual eatery has been serving up Mexican dishes with flavor and friendliness. Fans of freshly made authentic food rave about Acapulco, where even the tortillas are made in-house daily. Chow down on enchiladas, smothered burritos, flautas, pozole—you can even get ribs and a cheeseburger. But whatever you decide on, make sure to grab a sweet dessert. And don’t forget to ask about their daily lunch specials. 4722 S. 4015 West, Kearns, 801-964-1553, acapulcorestaurantutah.com

A Music Lovers’ Holiday Guide

What to get your musically inclined loved one

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

As we say every year, the holiday season is fast ap proaching, and you’re probably scrambling to figure out what to get for your musicallyinclined loved one. Fear not, for here is a big ol’ list of amazing gifts you can get for them.

Gift Cards: This isn’t the most innovative or creative idea on this list, but it truly alleviates the pressure of needing to find that perfect gift.Your gift-ee can go out and get what they want, and everyone is happy. Don’t go out and get a gift card from just anywhere, though; get them from local music shops. Utah-based stores have such an incredible and unique variety of items, it’s hard to go wrong with a gift card from one of these places.

If your person is more into vinyl, hop over to Lavender Vinyl (123 25th Street, Ogden, lavenderviyl.com) or Randy’s Records (157 E. 900 South, randysre cords.com), Diabolical Records (238 S. Edison St. East, diabolical-records. square.site) and Sound Vision and Vinyl (3444 S. Main St., soundandvi sionvinyl.com). These places will have plenty of crates to dig through, offering a perfect opportunity for your loved one to grab new tunes to spin. If your music per son isn’t interested in just vinyl, Gray whale (multiple locations in Ogden and SLC, graywhaleslc.com) stores of fer more in the way of CDs, cassettes and any other types of media they may want in addition to records. On the other hand, if your musical person doesn’t consume a lot of physical music, paying for the mu sic streaming service of their choice is a major help. Getting a gift card for Spotify or Apple Music is a gift that keeps giving for the whole year. Or, however long the gift card will pay for.

Accessories: Music-lovers can always use more accessories, and there’s a huge range of fun accessories you can get for your music lover. For vinyl enthusiasts, they may need a vinyl cleaning kit to help keep their records fresh, especially if they scoop up a lot of older albums. Similarly, a new slipmat for their record player can spruce things up and add some personality to their turntable. If they’re new to the vinyl world, they may need a 45 adapter or some kind record display or record holder. All of these handy accessories can be found at Lav ender Vinyl, in addition to so many more locally made goodies.

Memoirs: For your music-lover who’s also a bibliophile, consider picking up a memoir from their favorite band/sing er/musician. Plenty of big artists have written memoirs, from Debbie Harry of Blondie to Lil Wayne. There’s probably a memoir for your loved one’s favorite art ist. It’s easy to pick these up on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, but if you want to shop

MUSIC

locally, check out The King’s English Bookshop (1511 S. 1500 East, kingsen glish.com) in SLC, or A Novel Idea Book Parlor ( 3651 Wall Ave., Newgate Mall, anovelideabookparlor.com) in Ogden.

Ticket Stub Diary/Concert Tick ets: If you have an avid concert-goer in your life, there’s a good chance they have plenty of tickets from past shows lying around. They’ve probably stashed them somewhere out of sight, but this cute journal offers a way to store them neatly, and have them readily available to flip through when they want to walk down memory lane. The journal is $15 and can be found on Amazon. If you’ve got the cash to fork out on concert tick ets, you can hop over to Ticketmaster or LiveNation to look for the show your musical person wants to go to the most. In addition to live shows by big artists, SLC and Ogden boast amazing local acts nearly every night of the week. Follow our Music Picks section every week for shows to go see.

Music Subscription Boxes:

If you’re looking for a variety of things to gift, a music subscription box is the perfect way to go, especially because it’s a gift that keeps giving. Your loved one will look forward to what surprises they’ll get each month. Subscriptions like Vi nyl Moon (vinylmoon.co) are exciting for those who look forward to listening to different genres and exploring new tunes. “Vinyl Moon is the only vinyl ‘mixtape’ club that combines the best new music with original artwork to create an ultra-deluxe record experience. Every month! Each record gives you a fun, interactive and completely unique way to discover new music and wild artwork each month,” says their website. Similarly, places like Earth Libraries (earthlibraries.com) offer their “Li brary Card’’ membership, where they send out a first pressing vinyl from someone on their label. This is a great way to discover new music and support up-and-coming artists. CW

Emilee Atkinson

EMILEE ATKINSON

Martin, Fritz Hager,

12/8 American Idol has produced its fair share of pop culture moments over the past 20 years; it’s also produced its fair share of talented singers in that time. Francisco Martin appeared on the show’s 18th season that premiered in 2020, a year we wish we could all forget. Despite this, the show went on, and Martin finished in the top five of the competition. His latest EP Manic is inspired by a three-month pause after he was thrust into the public eye, according to his website. “It was created by Francisco and his co-producer/good friend Nick Sarpa in Francisco’s apartment studio setup,” his website states. “The release bursts with dynamic musicality such as stately balladry, cathartic, grungy aggression, catchy EDM, and moments of soulful serenity. Throughout the EP, Francisco bravely shares personal reflections on mental health, relationships, angst, and human disconnection in the age of connection.” Martin is joined by fellow Idol alum Fritz Hager, who also made it to the top five in season 20. The young singer is promoting his self-titled EP from earlier this year, but has hinted at new music to come. “I’m so hoping to release my single ‘Caroline,’ which I played during the show. I’ve been pushing it on socials, on TikTok a lot, and getting presaves up, he told Tyler Morning Telegraph in November. “‘Caroline’ is sort of the first single for hopefully, an EP and an album coming in the future.” Catch these Idols on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $23 before and $25 the day off the show. Find tickets at kilbycourt.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

Francisco

Allegra Miles, Jonny West @ Kilby Court

Francisco Martin COURTESY PHOTO

By Emilee Atkinson

By Emilee Atkinson

Anna Beck, Kaytlin Numbers, Mari @ DLC 12/9

Local singer/songwriter Anna Beck started 2022 out strong with two equally heartfelt and heartbreaking tracks detailing struggles with romantic relationships and how they unfor tunately don’t always work out. February gave us her first single of the year, “Let’s Be Friends!,” a track with an upbeat tempo that initially sounds like it will take you on a happy journey, only to find lyrics that dive into unrequited love. “He said let’s be friends / But he meant when it’s convenient,” Beck sings. Anyone who’s been in a situationship like this will understand the frustration and relate to these lyrics on a daunting level. Later in March, Beck dropped “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” a song that offers no disguise from the begin ning. Starting with a solemn piano track, it progresses before Beck’s melodic voice enters. Honestly if you just need a good cry, turn on this track; Beck doesn’t hold back, and it’ll hit you right in the feels. Joining Beck is fellow SLC artist Kaytlin Numbers, whose tracks are more upbeat and pop-infused, but still fit in with the “sad girl aesthetic.” Numbers worked with SLC producer Samsonite to put out three dynamic and exciting tracks in addition to her library on SoundCloud. Rounding out the local lineup is Mari, known for being part of the SLC outfit Pale Dream. She played her first solo show earlier this year at Kilby Court amid working on Pale Dream’s debut album Curse, which was released in November. Catch this trio of beloved locals at DLC on Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $10 and can be found at quartersslc.com. (EA)

Anna Beck LANDON JEONG

Pond @ Soundwell 12/10

Movin’ on up all the way from down under, psych rock serenaders Pond will hit Soundwell in SLC as part of their 2022 North American tour presented by Spinning Top Music, the small label known for reeling in “splash”-hit neo-psy chedelic stars such as Tame Impala. Fans who know the band for their popular melodically layered and lyrically kinda-cute tracks such as “Paint Me Silver” and “Holding Out For You” will find themselves pleasantly surprised by Pond’s most recent release, the ambitious deluxe edition of 9. The album treads into deeper waters, taking Pond’s signature kaleidoscopic sound on a startling yet still tech nicolor trip. Incorporating expected influences reminiscent of the fellow Australian experiment King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, as well as cornerstones of the early psych movement pioneered by Pink Floyd on albums such as Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 9 showcases a newer, sharpened and shined sound. Welding the almost-art-rock, somewhat-glam-punk and not-quite-80’s dance electronica with Pond’s already established intoxicated tunes, 9 crafts a medley that maintains a trademark sweetness that stings enough to make the likes of Brian Eno, the New York Dolls, Kraftwerk and The 5th Dimension proud. Whether this eclectic crew of inspirations makes you excited or unsure, as the age-old proverb goes, ya gotta see it to believe it. Pond plays Soundwell on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $20-22 and can be found at soundwellslc.com (Sophie Caligiuri)

Fruition, Pixie (Pixie and the Partygrass Boys) @ The State Room 12/11

Portland-based bluegrass/folk group Fruition have been busy over the past few years. They’ve been consistently releasing music for years, including their pre-pandemic album Wild as the Night, a piece of work that “conveys the emotions of our darkest, and sometimes weakest, moments,” according to their website. “Influenced equally by acoustic music as well as rock ‘n’ roll, the eclectic, after-hours vibe comes naturally to the Portland, Oregon-based band.” Fruition are no strangers to the music scene, as founders Kellen Asebroek and Mimi Naja met in 2008 while busking, and have grown and flourished since then. Their latest release is a live album from their time at the Visual Arts Collective in Boise, Idaho. Live albums can be a treat for listeners, a great way to get an idea of what their favorite group sounds like in a live setting if they’re not able to make it out to a show. It’s also an amazing way for a band to showcase their chemistry together, which has happened here with Fruition’s latest work. Listening through the well-produced and energetic album will transport you to the show as well as make you crave to see Fruition in person. Joining the group is local lovely Pixie from Pixie and the Partygrass Boys. This well-known local favorite band has been voted Best Local Band in City Weekly’s Best of Utah issue. While the whole group isn’t slated to be present, it’s sure to be an exciting show. Catch Fruition and Pixie on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $28 and can be found at thestateroompre sents.com. (EA)

Bartees Strange @ The Urban Lounge 12/13

Washington D.C. Indie-rock phenom Bartees Strange (born Bartees Leon Cox Jr.) soars coast to coast on his first headlining tour to support his debut album for label 4D, Farm to Table, which was released earlier this year. There’s no floating under the radar anymore for Strange, a do-it-all tunesmith who acts as singer, songwriter and producer, and who just gets better and better with each release. Building on the foundation of his breakthrough LP, Live Forever, the new-new Farm to Table is an exercise in ambition. “I want people who are into my music to be all the way in, into the world that I’m building, and also understand that what I make isn’t for everybody. Like all art,” Strange told NPR in June. Farm to Table is a rich, beautifully textured album with detailed arrangements that require a bit of an attention span and careful ear to fully absorb. If you have some time on your hands, check out his acoustic rendition of the Freddie Gibbs/ScHoolboy Q “Gang Signs ” It’s a mustlisten. Bartees Strange is a time-and-place kind of musician, an artist where you remember where you were when you first heard him. With the capability to perform in at least a half-dozen different genres and do it well, he’s likely to be ascending from intimate clubs to arenas soon. Opening the exciting show are The Pom Pom Squad and They Hate Change. Catch this event on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets for the 21+ show are $17.50. Booth reservations are $100 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Mark Dago)

MUSIC PICKS

JIM BOB THE HOMIE JESSIE MCCALL NATE PALMER

Fruition

Pond

Bartees Strange

By Emilee Atkinson

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

Gotorealastrology.comforRobBrezsny’sexpandedweeklyaudiohoroscopesanddailytext-messagehoroscopes.

Audiohoroscopesalsoavailablebyphoneat877-873-4888or900-950-7700.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Aries filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky wrote, “To be free, you simply have to be so, without asking permission. You must have your own hypothesis about what you are called to do, and follow it, not giving in to circumstances or complying with them. But that sort of freedom demands powerful inner resources, a high degree of self-awareness and a consciousness of your respon sibility to yourself and therefore to other people.” That last element is where some freedom-seekers falter. They neglect their obligation to care for and serve their fellow humans. I want to make sure you don’t do that, Aries, as you launch a new phase of your liberation process. Authentic freedom is conscientious.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

The term “neurodiversity” refers to how the human brain functions in a wide variety of ways. There are not just a few versions of mental health and learning styles that are better than all the others. Taurus musician David Byrne believes he is neurodiverse because he is on the autism spectrum. That’s an advantage, he feels, giving him the power to focus with extra intensity on his creative pursuits. I consider myself neurodi verse because my life in the imaginal realm is just as important to me as my life in the material world. I suspect that most of us are neurodiverse in some sense—deviating from “normal” mental functioning. What about you, Taurus? The coming months will be an excellent time to explore and celebrate your own neurodiversity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Poet Jane Hirshfield says that Zen Buddhism is built on three principles: 1. Everything changes; 2. Everything is connected; 3.

Pay attention. Even if you are not a practitioner, I hope you will focus on the last two precepts in the coming weeks. If I had to summarize the formula that will bring you the most interesting experiences and feelings, it would be, “Pay attention to how everything is connected.” I hope you will intensify your inten tion to see how all the apparent fragments are interwoven. Here’s my secret agenda: I think it will help you register the truth that your life has a higher purpose than you’re usually aware of—and that the whole world is conspiring to help you fulfill that purpose.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Author Flannery O’Connor wrote, “You have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.” I add a thought: “You have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it and strive to transform it into a better place.” Let’s make this one of your inspirational meditations in the coming months, Cancerian. You will have more power than usual to transform the world into a better place. Get started! (PS: Doing so will enhance your ability to endure and cherish.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Many sports journalists will tell you that while they may root for their favorite teams, they also “root for the story.” They want a compelling tale to tell. They yearn for dramatic twists that reveal entertaining details about interesting characters performing unique feats. That’s how I’m going to be in the coming months, Leo, at least in relation to you. I hope to see you engaged in epic sagas, creating with verve as you weave your way through challenges and adventures. I predict my hope will be realized.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Venus is too hot and dry for humans to live on. But if travel ers from Earth could figure out a way to feel comfortable there, they would enjoy a marvelous perk. The planet rotates very slowly. One complete day and night lasts for 243 Earth days and nights. That means you and a special friend could take a romantic stroll toward the sunset for as long as you wanted and never see the sun go down. I invite you to dream up equally lyrical adventures in togetherness here on Earth during the coming months, Virgo. Your intimate alliances will thrive as you get imaginative and creative about nurturing togetherness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Libran Buddhist monk and author Thích Nhấ t H ạ nh was one of the finest humans who ever lived. “Where do you seek the spiritual?” he asked. His answer: “You seek the spiritual in every ordinary thing that you do every day. Sweeping the floor, watering the vegetables and washing the dishes become sacred if mindfulness is there.” In the coming weeks, Libra, I suspect you will have exceptional power to live like this: to regard every event, however mun dane or routine, as an opportunity to express your soulful love and gratitude for the privilege of being alive. Act as if the whole world is your precious sanctuary.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

A reader tells me, “We Scorpio allies admire how Scorpios can be so solicitous and welcoming: the best party hosts. They know how to foster social situations that bring out the best in everyone and provide convivial entertainment. Yet Scorpios also know everyone’s secrets. They are con noisseurs of the skeletons in the closets. So they have the power to spawn discordant commotions and wreak havoc on people’s reputations. But they rarely do. Instead, they keep the secrets. They use their covert knowledge to weave deep connections.” Everything Ella Jean described will be your specialties in the coming weeks, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Of the signs in the zodiac, Sagittarians are least likely to stay in one location for long. Many of you enjoy the need to move around from place to place. Doing so may be crucial in satisfying your quest for everfresh knowledge and stimulation. You understand that it’s risky to become too fixed in your familiar habits and too rigidly dogmatic in your beliefs. So you feel an imperative to keep disrupting routines before they can become deadening. In the times when you are successful in this endeavor, it’s often due to a special talent that you have: your capacity for creating an inner sense of home that enables you to feel stable and grounded as you ramble free. My reading of the astrological signs sug gests this superpower will be extra strong during the coming months.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Edgar Allan Poe made this statement: “We can, at any time, double the true beauty of an actual landscape by half closing our eyes as we look at it.” What did he mean? He was referring to how crucial it is to see life “through the veil of the soul.” Using our physical vision gives us only half the story. To be receptive to the world’s full glory, our deepest self must also participate in the vision. Of course, this is always true. But it’s even more extra especially true than usual for you right now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Aquarian theologian Henri Nouwen wrote, “I have discovered that the gifts of life are often hidden in the places that hurt most.” Yikes! Really? I don’t like that idea. But I will say this: If Nouwen’s theory has a grain of truth, you will capitalize on that fact in the coming weeks. Amazingly enough, a wound or pain you experienced in the past could reveal a redemptive possibility that inspires and heals you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Piscean novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen says it’s wise to talk to yourself. No other conversational partner is more fascinating. No one else listens as well. I offer you his advice, Pisces, in the hope of encouraging you to upgrade the intensity and frequency of your inner dialogs with yourself. Now is an excellent astrological time to go deeper with the questions you pose and to be braver in formulating your responses. Make the coming weeks be the time when you find out much more about what you truly think and feel.

XSUDOKU

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.

What’s Out for 2023

Home décor trends come and go. And recently, the National Association of Realtors published its list of popular design trends in 2022 that need be gone next year.

Immediately upon reading the article, I went on a listing appointment and noticed many of these design trends on display— ugh! Here they are:

1. Vessel bowl sinks. These raised sinks are a pain in the ass to clean around the base and the counter and some can easily crack.

2. Tiled countertops in bathrooms and kitchens. This was a big trend 50 years ago but now solid-surface—such as granite— countertops are much more popular. Grout in old tiled rooms can get dirty, crack and even get loose.

3. A “cloffice”—which became very popu lar when we had to squeeze everyone at home into various rooms to sleep, work, school, cook and play. Closets turned into offices show that the home doesn’t have enough room for today’s modern living.

4. Furniture that is all the same color— like beige.

5. Animal prints, especially cowhide rugs and animal print furniture.

6. Rainfall showerheads. They may look cool but they have no water pressure!

7. Venetian plaster walls. This is “stuc co put onto a flat wall surface” to look like limewash and usually done in earthtones. It matched the décor in the next item …

8. Tuscan décor from the 1990s. It’s heavylooking furniture in dark dark colors de signed after interior furniture found in rich, old Italian castles.

9. Wallpaper or “scenic” murals used as accent walls. If you have to do it, use a peeland-stick variety that can be easily removed.

10. Too many plants. Folks stuck at home during the great pandemic found friends and solace in their house plants. Rare plants became a rage for a year or two, but having your house look like a jungle inside is defi nitely out.

But the list of hot trends to watch for in 2023 includes: decorating with furniture/ paint in shades of blue, or muted, neutral and warm colors, like plumb and mustard; personality-packed rugs; statement window treatments; waterfall islands in the kitchen where the granite or quartz falls down each end so it looks like an inverted “U”; listen ing rooms for audiophiles; statement lamps; light, warm, wood tones in furniture and flooring; stripes in wall treatments and furniture; gold fixtures instead of brushed nickel; gloss finishes; plaids and subtle tartans in bed dressings; dedicated craft rooms; “jewel-box” (fancier) laundry rooms; and interior archways.

I have always heard that you need to up date your interior every five years—with new paint, updated light fixtures, updated floor ing and so on.

You don’t have to go crazy and spend a ton of money to keep up with the Johansen’s, but you can look just as good as your fancyschmancy neighbors with thoughtful taste choices and décor. n

NEWS of the WEIRD

‘Tis the Season

Archaeologists in Turkey believe they have found the tomb of the real St. Nicholas, People reported on Oct. 19. The grave was discovered beneath the floor of a 7th- or 8th-century church in the country’s Antalya province. St. Nicholas of Myra, the real-life inspiration for our modern-day Santa Claus, allegedly served as bishop there. Scientists say the site will be protected and prepared for display.

It’s a Mystery

On a sheep farm in the Inner Mongolia region of China, a strange phenomenon has been caught on surveillance video, Oddity Central reported. Starting on Nov. 4 and lasting more than two weeks, dozens of sheep were seen walking clockwise in a large circle. Other animals could be seen staring at the circle from outside it, or standing motionless in the middle of it. Only sheep from one pen (out of 34) were acting strangely, according to Ms. Miao, the owner. Some viewers of the video theorized that the sheep are suffering from listeriosis, or “circles disease,” but that condition usually causes a rapid death.

Fish Story

Bluewater Lakes in Champagne, France, is the home of the Carrot, a hybrid leather carp and koi fish that was released into the fishing lake 20 years ago and has been eluding fishers ever since, the Daily Mail reported. That is, until Nov. 3, when Andy Hackett, from Worcestershire, England, landed the 67-pound beauty. Hackett spent about 25 minutes hauling in the Carrot. “I always knew the Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it,” Hackett said. He released the famous fish back into the lake and celebrated with a cup of tea.

The Rules

In Tennessee, it is legal to collect roadkill for consumption, WJHL-TV reported on Nov. 20. In fact, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency encourages people to take home animals found on the road, with some strict rules in place. For example, deer and turkey must be reported to TWRA or local police within 48 hours of collection. But “bears, on the other hand, require that a TWRA agent come out and issue you a receipt for a black bear,” said spokesperson Matthew Cameron. That’s because the bear population is monitored, and the TWRA takes a tooth from the animal for the purpose of dating it. In addition, tracking bear kills helps the agency prevent the sale of bear parts on the black market. “It’s highly illegal to sell any kind of bear parts in the state of Tennessee,” Cameron said, “but it does happen.” Small animals such as rabbits, raccoons, squirrels and skunks can be collected without notifying anyone.

Wiener War

A turf war of sorts broke out late on Nov. 19 in downtown San Diego, CBS8-TV reported: Interloper hot dog vendors from Los Angeles had set up outside Petco Park stadium, where Duke Dumont was playing, and the San Diego vendors weren’t having it. A brawl involving 10 to 15 people ensued, with one 35-yearold man being stabbed in the back during the fray. Police arrested Yoni Yates, 21, in the assault, which resulted in non-life-threat ening injuries. No buns were injured in the incident.

Stowaway

TSA agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport saved the day on Nov. 16 when they spotted an unusual item in a passen ger’s checked baggage: a live cat. NBC2 News reported that the feline could be seen in an X-ray of the bag and was rescued before the suitcase went into the cargo hold. “The cat did not belong to the individual with the suitcase,” TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. “It belonged to someone else in the household.”

The Demands of the Job

In Paris, a court has ruled in favor of “Mr. T,” a former employee of Cubik Partners who was fired in 2015 for being “insuffi cient professionally” because he wouldn’t take part in “teambuilding” activities, i.e., going to the pub after work hours and on weekends. In his suit, Mr. T said the company encouraged a culture “involving promiscuity, bullying and incitement to vari ous excesses.” The Court of Cessation declared that Mr. T “could not be blamed for his lack of integration in the fun environment,” The U.S. Sun reported. Cubik was forced to pay him about $3,100 in compensation.

Extreme Measures

Jermaine Bell, 38, spent more than three years in jail fighting charges against him for an armed robbery in 2018, Local10-TV reported. When he heard the guilty verdict in a Miami-Dade County, Florida, courtroom on Nov. 21, Bell guzzled a cup of bleach, becoming so sick that he had to be removed from the courtroom on a stretcher. He survived the self-imposed attack, but officials are unclear where he obtained the bleach. Rev.

Jerome Starling, a distant cousin, saw Bell “drinking something that’s not right, and that his attorneys are letting him drink it, the corrections are letting him drink it. And all of a sudden, I see him collapse. And I’m like, ‘What just happened?’” Starling recounted. Bell’s family members are pursuing the matter.

Oops

Japanese food shops rely on remarkably realistic plastic samples to showcase their offerings, but one Osaka shop mistakenly sold five plastic pastries to customers on Oct. 22, Gulf News reported. At Andrew’s Egg Tart, a worker immediately noticed the mis take, and the plastic treats were exchanged for the real thing. From now on, the shop will use stickers to distinguish real egg tarts from their doppelgangers.

Likely Story

Police in Mathura, India, reported to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act court that more than 500kg of marijuana, confiscated and stored in two police stations, had been “eaten” by rats, Gulf News reported. Officers told the judge that mice and rats, although small, do not fear police. A district judge ordered police to eradicate the “mice menace” and provide proof that the critters actually consumed the weed by Nov. 26.

That’s One Way To Do It

With home prices in New Zealand taking their biggest drop in 30 years, one homeowner who’s looking to sell is trying to sweeten the offer. The owner of 22 Dungloe Avenue in Flat Bush is offer ing a free Tesla with the purchase of their $1.8 million home, Sky News reported. The new owner will be asked to choose the color of the electric car, which will be ordered new and delivered to the home from the manufacturer. And with six parking spots, they can park it sideways if they want.

Family Values

On Oct. 26, 12-year-old Ayden was picked up unexpectedly by his dad from a birthday party in Los Angeles and was told they were going to a park. Instead, KABC-TV reported, the man started driving to Las Vegas, and Ayden became concerned because he believed his dad was driving drunk. (The fact that Dad was wear ing a Las Vegas Raiders helmet might have been a clue.) Ayden called 911 and explained his situation; he told the dispatcher the car has “Raider plates on the front and in the back.” Officers finally caught up with the car, and Ayden’s dad faces charges of DUI and child abuse.

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