City Weekly May 2, 2024

Fun in the $un Fun in the $un

Utah gave $40 million in tax breaks to a solar company accused of fraud.

BY ERIC S. PETERSON

TS-D SERIES

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BOX

Big Money, Big Power

The nation’s big money powers are in the process of capturing everything of value in America—real estate, business and industry, banks, all three branches of government, media, nonprofits, military, churches, sports and entertainment.

And the party of big money no longer even pretends to be just, egalitarian and peace-loving.

Just consider Republican candidates talking now about arming up to cause election chaos in November.

Two examples are U.S. Senate candidate

Kari “Strap on a Glock” Lake of Arizona, and U.S. Senate candidate Brad “Aim Your Rifle at Biden” Wilson, formerly Utah’s House speaker.

Our country’s wealthy aristocrats monopolize every industry and make and break every rule.

Meanwhile, the remaining 99% beg to get a glimpse of the homes, cars and wardrobes of the 1%, and bend the knee to their every whim and pleasure.

All this did not take long to accomplish. Educated Boomers have seen it all unfold. The de-regulation/monopoly movement started after World War II and hasn’t abated since.

Americans have lost all touch with what it means to be a democracy and a humane people, and we have made a permanent home for the people in ignorance, apathy, and addiction.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We have simply given too much power to too few people to hold for too long in America. Power has shifted from localities to the states, and from states to the

central government over the past hundred years or so.

This shift diminished the power of hundreds of thousands of state legislators, county commissioners, city and town council members and local judicial bodies, while consolidating that power in the hands of only 535 congresspersons, nine Supreme Court justices and one powermad president.

That’s the “too much power to too few” part of the equation.

We have also allowed all but one of these power-laden men and women to stay in office for a lifetime if they can manage it. That is the “too long” half of the problem.

If America wants to help save democracy, we must devolve federal power back to states and localities and place term limits on the 544 tyrants currently lording it over the nation.

That is what is necessary to bring selfdetermination back to the people of this country.

KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY Woods Cross

Correction: In the Dining Guide 2024 feature in the April 25 issue of Salt Lake City Weekly, Urban Hill chef Nick

with

prior

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THE WATER COOLER

What’s a good name for the new NHL team that just moved to town?

Benjamin Wood

I like Cutthroats, but any name will do for me. I’m just jazzed (hey-yo!) about getting another pro team. What sticks in my craw is how the state is requiring the name to be “The Utah [blanks]” and not “The Salt Lake [Blanks],” but them’s the breaks with a $1 billion subsidy.

Scott Renshaw

Since the terms of the deal don’t allow Utah to keep the name Coyotes—like the Jazz did when they moved from New Orleans I suggest continuing the tradition of names that make sense for the place the team came from. How about the “Utah Retirees”?

Bill Frost

Wasatch Sasquatch—there’s already an internet movement for it.

Tom Metos

Utah Black Diamonds. Utah Snow Cats. Utah Orange Cones.

Katharine Biele

The NHL-loving student who lives with me suggests the Utah Blizzard (if climate change doesn’t make that name wildly fanciful).

Pete Saltas

The Utah Golden Tablets

Zocco’s

position

the Heber restaurant Afterword was misstated. Zocco worked as a chef for Afterword.

BY MICHAEL S. ROBINSON SR.

OPINION Freedom of Speech

America’s university students and faculty are expressing their loathing of Israel’s unrelenting murder of Palestinian civilians.

Murder’s a strong word, but it’s the only one that fits.

Many of our leaders condemn these protests—especially when the audio’s turned up sufficiently to remind them of their own moral failure—aiming to stand for what is right instead of money. The fear of losing the Jewish vote is what has allowed America’s political power to turn a blind eye to the unfathomable suffering of the Palestinians. Shamefully, we’ve been standouts in the international condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s murderous campaign.

In short, U.S. involvement with Israel is a dirty business, and there’s good reason to protest.

The oldest and finest of our halls of higher learning are being besieged by both students and faculty members demanding change; they’re insisting that their schools dissociate from any involvement with the Israeli government; and they’re adamant that U.S. aid must not be available for Israel’s destruction of the Palestinian people.

At first, it was only a few voices. Now, it’s turned into a movement, and it will not be silenced.

Immediately after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Israel saw a world rallying to its aid. That included the same conscientious Americans who are protesting today.

Sadly, empathy for Israel has been quickly replaced by international revulsion over Netanyahu’s out-of-control inhumanity as he openly seeks to kill Palestinians and drive them from their homeland. The Zionist/Netanyahu strategy isn’t about retaliation—it’s about preserving Israel’s apartheid policies and erasing its Arab population from the land. It’s a mini-Holocaust for Palestinians, and there’s no end in sight.

In a very real sense, if this doesn’t end soon, we may well see the eradication of a people—all under the pretext of rooting out Hamas and its rule of Gaza. Netanyahu has tried to prevent

any international oversight; he’s made sure that all legitimate observers are chaperoned by the Israel Defense Forces into what are merely public relations tours. He’s responsible for the deaths of almost 100 properly identified journalists. He’s allowed nearly 700 doctors and other health workers to die, and he bears ultimate responsibility for the deaths of over 200 properly authorized humanitarian aid workers.

It is high time that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and some of his lieutenants. (That means Lord Bibi may not be vacationing in any Caribbean resorts.) To make sure it’s not one-sided, the ICC has also issued warrants for the Hamas operatives who’ve been responsible for war crimes.

I don’t know what’s happened to Americans, but it seems the idealism that dominated our country’s earlier years has been lost. No American should be able to sleep at night, knowing that the ammunition, fighters, drones and missiles at Netanyahu’s disposal are supplied by us. Interestingly, the recent Iran-based, 200-missile attack on Israel was not fended off by the Israeli military. It was the U.S. that—virtually single-handedly—shot down the entire barrage.

It doesn’t seem to matter how much aid we give Israel; we know it will use our generous dollars to execute the program of ethnic cleansing and to silence any Arabs who dare standup to the virtual imprisonment of an entire nation. There’s also a very real risk that Israel will drag us into a war that may redefine the Middle East and surrounding regions.

Through the whole Gaza debacle, President Joe Biden has insisted, for obvious political reasons, that the U.S. will continue to furnish Israel with all its military needs—something that has hit a raw nerve in many Americans—Jews and Arabs alike. Now the idealists, particularly the young, are protesting the United States’ inexcusable involvement in the displacement and death of more than 34,000 Palestinians. More are dying every day, and those who don’t die will return to a wasteland.

Campus protests at USC, Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Emery, University of Texas at Austin and even locally at the University of Utah have become reminiscent of the ’60s, when peaceful demonstrations became spectacles involving students and law enforcement. Back then, it was the “hippies,” infuriated by President Johnson’s merciless B-52 bombings of Vietnam’s neutral neighbors. Sadly, some of those cries for peace were met with violence and death, the most memorable of which was the National Guard killings of students at Kent State.

A red-herring use of the word “antisemitism” is being bandied about as a reason for universities to crack down on student activism. But solidarity with the plight of Palestinians is not the same as hating Jews. We must all respect the Jewish religion and its followers, while at the same time, deeply loathing the inhumanities, murder and genocide for which Netanyahu has become the poster boy.

We must also keep a sensible perspective and remember history. One thing is clear—the outcry of responsible Americans has been effective in the past. President Lyndon Johnson, simply one of America’s worst mass-murderers, yielded to public pressure and ended America’s carnage of Southeast Asia. Likewise the highly visible, vocal demonstrations of the Civil Rights Movement brought a (legal) end to discrimination on the basis of race.

Those who oppose the current wave of university activism—and who condone the rubber bullets, tear gas and arrests—need to stop and consider if their attitudes clash with the Founding Fathers’ reverence for free speech and peaceful assembly. Those are, after all, necessary and essential mechanisms of change.

The students and academics risking their own well-being for the Palestinian cause are heroes, and no one should be criminally prosecuted for pushing against those things that are reprehensible and morally wrong.

While some of the universities have resolved to provide general amnesty for their campus activists, others seem determined to purge protesters from their ranks. Of all places, universities should be forums where responsible dissent is encouraged—not punished.

How can universities expect to assist in the process of creating great people if they quash the legitimate voices of student and faculty activists?

The rubber bullets and tear gas must end. Those who voice moral opinions on America’s wrongs should not face loss of employment, an end to their education or criminal consequences. After all, they are demonstrating their courage and integrity—to speak out against the murder of innocent human beings.

Anyone who has a heart should stand with them. CW

Private Eye is off this week. Michael S. Robinson Sr. writes the weekly Taking a Gander column available online at cityweekly.net. Send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net

WEEKLY

BY WES LONG wlong@cityweekly.net

“Everyone agrees that 2020 ranks among the worst years of their lives,” remarked John Saltas on Jan. 7, 2021. There had been other years of similar awfulness—1929, 1941, 1968—but those who lived then generally maintained a sense of judgment and proportion through the terrible times—people like Saltas’ then93-year-old mother Stella (1927-2023).

Her bingo nights, senior-citizen lunches and Wendover trips ceased due to the COVID pandemic. She hated the distance necessitated between her family. But, as Saltas reported, she still believed COVID had not been as bad as other periods in her life.

“She doesn’t have much tolerance for people who belittle and diminish the sanctity of living,” Saltas wrote. “She recognizes their passion for personal liberties because her own father left the Greek island of Crete in 1906 precisely to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities of America, but she thinks they’re damned fools. She knows his stories of life under Ottoman occupation are 10 times scarier than those of frightened people who fear their neighbors because they voted for Democrats or wear masks. The beauty of freedom, though, is that we should all embrace the freedom to be stupid—so long as it doesn’t hurt someone else.”

Would that others understood this half as well. While a vaccine had become available, there remained many Utahns flouting any suggestion of wearing a mask, taking precautions or prioritizing a united effort to reverse infection rates. Rather than provide an example in leadership, Utah was racing in the opposite direction in its COVID response. Were one to survey the events City Weekly covered in its 37th year, they would be tempted to lament, with Stella Saltas, the selfish and destructive behavior of the “damned fools” in such a dark time.

Hundreds of thousands were dying from COVID, the gap between rich and poor was at its widest in 50 years, Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality were raging and the Trump administration was dropping protections for lands and endangered species while pardoning criminal trespassers like Utah’s own Phil Lyman. Alt-right extremists, white supremacists, Christian nationalists and conspiracy theorists were increasing in volume, while armed convoys of “Trump Trains” made the rounds on American streets at election time.

Utahns voted to approve a constitutional right to hunt and fish and to weaken the earmarking of income tax for schools. The election was also the first that state school board members were selected on a partisan basis. Other outcomes included the rise of Spencer Cox as governor and the replacement of Ben McAdams with Burgess Owens in Utah’s 4th Congressional District.

Few would likely agree with Sen. Mike Lee’s infamous tweet disdaining democracy as “rank.” In fact, tens of thousands of Utah Democrats registered as Republicans in an attempt have more of a say in the state’s elections, such as they were.

The confusion, misery and ill-feeling reached its grotesque apogee in the failed Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, which included Utahns among the armed participants. And most of Utah’s congressional delegation were among the effort’s lawmaking contingent. Damned fools, all.

Benjamin Wood began writing for City Weekly, becoming news editor shortly into the next publication cycle. We mourned several local friends and supporters, such as Salt Lake Magazine’s executive editor Mary Brown Malouf (1954-2020), Capitol Preservation Board champion Allyson White Gamble (1968-2020) and local market/deli owner Tony Caputo (1949-2021), along with the closures of Blue Plate Diner and the Bricks music venue.

Notable issues included features on CW interns, medical cannabis, local Black activists and poetry honoring Utah’s 125th anniversary. Katharine Biele reported on The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News ceasing daily publication, Jim Catano profiled retiring Unitarian minister Tom Goldsmith, Jenny Poplar looked at police responses to mental health crises and Jerre Wroble tracked the actions of elected officials during Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Remembering Vol. 37: In the club

“I remember the first time I walked into a gay bar,” John Saltas recalled on Oct. 8, 2020. In the mid-’70s, most clubs were closed on Sunday. Someone in his group of co-workers suggested gathering at the Sun Tavern across from the Union Pacific station. “This was an exciting proposition,” he wrote. “We knew the Sun was Salt Lake City’s best-known gay bar, and, well, gay bars were for gay people, when they were called gay, that is.”

With the same wonder as Dorothy in Oz, Saltas described himself as “all agog” and all the more so when his group happened upon their boss on a date—much to the surprise of all and much to the outed boss’ eventual relief. That such a bar could even exist in Salt Lake, Saltas noted, was due to the efforts of Sun Tavern proprietor Joseph “Joe” Redburn (1938-2020), who worked to make his establishment open to all and valued bringing “gays” and “straights” together.

“Joe was one helluva guy,” Saltas wrote. “He died a month ago—on Sept. 6, 2020— alone and homeless at the South Salt Lake Men’s Resource Center at the age of 81. I can only think of a few people who did as much for the Pride community of Utah as Joe Redburn. He did the heavy lifting for decades, including hosting his outspoken radio program, opening the Sun Tavern (now known in its latest iteration as Sun Trapp), promoting and helping to fund the original gay community tabloids and even hosting the seminal event that grew into Utah’s renowned Pride Parade. That he died alone and homeless is a real kick in the pants and a warning to all would-be pioneers: Very few will understand or care what you’re going through today, including some whose lives you’ve made better.”

Book dealer Ken Sanders understood Redburn’s impact—Redburn had inspired him to develop what was for a time Utah’s largest selection of gay and lesbian books at the old Cosmic Aeroplane Books & Records. “Here’s to you, Joe Redburn,” Sanders wrote in an Oct. 15 letter, “and the proud, if not well known legacy you have left us.”

In a May 2021 “Urban Living” column, Babs De Lay reminisced on Salt Lake’s first Pride celebration in 1974, a summer gathering on City Creek. “Basically, it was a kegger up the canyon followed by more frivolity at the [Great Salt Lake’s] unofficial nude hangout, Bare Ass Beach.” It was Redburn, De Lay wrote, who had provided the kegs.

“Joe was a hero in this town,” Saltas concluded his 2020 editorial. “If you don’t know that, especially if you don’t know that and consider yourself part of the LGBTQ+ community, then shame on you. He opened the door for you and held it open. He had the foresight to shape the minds of people like me, to push citizens to do the right thing, to hug, to share, to engage, to grow, to awaken, to be proud of one another.”

In one quote

“‘Freedom’ as [today’s] American conservatives use the word isn’t a big tent, a noble principle that protects us all. For them, ‘freedom’ is a club—and I mean that in two senses of the word. First, it’s an exclusive organization to which only those of a certain ideological bent are invited; your ‘freedom’ ends where a perceived threat to their ideology begins. Second, it’s a truncheon to be leveled against anything they don’t like, with claims that their sorts of freedoms are absolute and without the possibility of restriction. ‘Freedom’ becomes something they can swing in front of them as a license to do whatever they want to do, no matter the likely effect on anyone else.”

(Scott Renshaw, July 23, 2020)

In lighter news

As could be seen above, this was a remarkably difficult year on a number of different fronts. While violence, greed, extremism, corruption and cruelty raged high and low, there were also some refreshingly hopeful developments to come out of this year.

The backlog of untested rape kits that had accumulated on police lab shelves (see Vol. 31) were finally caught up, thanks to local initiatives and a 2017 bill from Rep. Angela Romero. Also on the legislative front was Patrice Arent’s removal of the straightticket voting option on Utah ballots and the unsuccessful efforts by the deep-pocketed Reagan Outdoor Advertising to advance two billboard-friendly pieces of legislation.

The iconic “Y” near Provo’s Brigham Young University was lighted with rainbow flashlights by anonymous LGBTQ allies, state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn was a singular voice of reason amid Utah’s COVID response, and hundreds of trees felled by winds along the Wasatch Front were gathered by Urban Indian Center volunteers and sent to the Navajo Nation for heating. What’s more, Dr. Christina Thuet’s group “With Love, from Strangers” provided needed supplies and aid to the COVIDravaged Four Corners region.

These little glimpses of good were all welcome, for as Rep. Andrew Stoddard told Jerre Wroble for a February 2021 feature on another subject, “there is something about coming together as neighbors to make a better community … that can have an incredible ripple effect.”CW

HITS & MISSES

MISS: Fear and Loathing

The Utah Republican Convention: ‘Nuf said. If there ever were an example of political dissonance, this is it. Republicans have enough to answer for nationally, where they are petrified in support of a man bent on destroying their way of life. But in Utah, we add another layer of dumbfoundedness. Over-the-fringe delegates laid out the red carpet for Trump-backed haters, including the presidentially pardoned lawbreaker Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, and most-MAGA Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs. Maybe it’s expected that delegates would boo Gov. Spencer Cox, snub U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy and disparage the children of the lieutenant governor and of Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, a right-wing love child. But the real winner was Sen. Mike Lee, who has done virtually nothing for the state and yet backed a winning ticket of hardliners. Cox, listing all the things liberals might dislike about him, smiled amid his cynicism and said delegates probably think he doesn’t hate enough.

MISS: Nuclear Families

Speaking of Utah’s senior senator, he and Sen. Mitt Romney voted against a bipartisan bill to expand relief for downwinders through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. It was expanded by Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, not because he feels for affected Utahns, but because constituents near St. Louis were exposed to contaminated water from weapons development. Indeed, the bill could cost some $50 billion to cover all those—including Native Americans—unlucky enough to live in the path of radiation. Utah’s Mary Dickson lobbied for the expanded bill. She has never been included in reparations although anecdotally harmed by the fallout. “Are our lives worth a tiny fraction of what we spend to maintain those weapons that harmed us?” Dickson told KSL. Maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal between 2023 and 2032 is estimated to cost $756 billion. Gee, maybe we should have national health care.

HIT: Make Like a Tree

With all the recent rain, it’s hard to get your head around Utah as a drought-ridden state. It’s a little easier when you consider how difficult it is to nurture the urban forest in Salt Lake, especially while the Great Salt Lake continues to shrink. Arbor Day provided a platform for the mayor’s attempt to plant trees in the city— 2,000 a year, she says. This despite the fact that many of the new trees have died—one out of every 10 planted, especially those on the west side. Part of the problem there has been development that destroyed trees and a lack of attention to watering. “Of all the things we allocate water to in (the city’s) urban environment, trees use this precious resource the most efficiently,” city officials told the Deseret News. If the city is indeed serious, the west side and Salt Lake will benefit.

Coffee People

In the heart of downtown, it’s hard to miss the “Second & Second” in large white font against solid black paint written across the brick building at 200 South and 200 East.

The latest tenant of this distinctive landmark is The People’s Coffee. However, the building began as a Studebaker automobile garage, where the letters originally displayed, “Studebaker Garage.” It showcases Salt Lake City’s industrial past and community growth throughout the past hundred years.

Studebaker began as an 18th century colonial family business that manufactured wagons. By 1852, it was an Indiana-based wagon manufacturer owned by five brothers. By 1868, it was known as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Co. Their business quickly spread across the country— including to Utah—when they entered the automotive business with electric vehicles in 1902 and gasoline vehicles in 1904.

Many photographs of the era in the University of Utah’s Shipler Collection show men riding the newest car models in front of the Latter-day Saint Temple downtown. The Studebaker Garage marked the transition from horse-drawn carriages toward automobiles in the first half of the 1900s.

The Studebaker company established a reputation for quality, durability and reliability, and its popularity in Salt Lake City was evidenced by the Studebaker store location at 157 S. State.

Now, the old garage building at 2nd and 2nd doubles as a coffee shop with low-income housing above. The People’s Coffee was forced to move its shop from 300 South when a block of small businesses was demolished for a housing project on 300 South. Finding a new spot only a few blocks away was a stroke of luck in May of 2021, a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. The coffee shop is celebrating three years in its new home and appears to be flourishing.

Having a coffee shop in a historical building has its advantages, Omar Jamhour, the owner said. “It’s still in the middle of downtown, but yet it doesn’t have to be a new building. It has a lot of character and doesn’t look like every other building.”

As a historical building with housing on the upper floors, Jamhour’s contract lasts for 89 years, so he does not have to worry about the building being demolished and having to relocate again. “They can’t kick me out because of demolishing the building,” he said, “which is definitely the biggest benefit.” CW

theESSENTIALS

Sammy Obeid

In all likelihood, Sammy Obeid would rather not be known for potentially controversial jokes about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. He could, perhaps, lean on his unique achievement of performing standup for 1,0001 consecutive days in the early 2010s. Or he could just tell jokes about being an alum of super-woke Berkeley, or ones predicated on his background as a math major, like he did in his great 2022 special Martyr in a Safe Space (available on YouTube).

Obeid, however, is a Palestinian-American. And at times over the years—like, oh, I don’t know, right now, for example—building that identity into his act has led to some awkward moments. His YouTube channel includes several recent examples, including a show at a San Francisco private club where things got more than slightly testy after Obeid dove head-first into the current conflict in Gaza. But that hasn’t made him shy away from being honest—and still very funny—about difficult subjects. It simply shouldn’t surprise anyone planning on attending a Sammy Obeid show that his observational comedy isn’t going to be innocuous just to make sure he avoids offense. Or as he put it during one show that was interrupted by a heckler, “Everybody loves political comedy—just not at the same time.”

Sammy Obeid visits Wiseguys Comedy Club at The Gateway (190 S. 400 West) on Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. for a show that’s almost guaranteed to get a little spicy. Tickets are $30; visit wiseguyscomedy.com for tickets and additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

Einbinder and Jean Smart in Hacks

Comedies About Comedy

TV series about comedians and standup comedy aren’t all funny business.

BY BILL FROST comments@cityweekly.net

TVshows about comedians and standup comedy aren’t built to last. For every Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (which ran for five seasons) and Seinfeld (nine seasons), there are many more that bombed just a couple of years in. Not necessarily because they sucked—except for Rob Schneider’s Real Rob, which was real garbage—but because brevity serves the funny, or something. Here are a few excellent comedy comedies to stream.

Hacks (2021–present; Max): Hacks has the potential to live on for multiple seasons (its third premieres on May 2), but there’s nothing Max and Warner Bros. Discovery can’t ruin. The story of veteran comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her hiredgun young writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) flips from caustic to sweet on a dime, and its critiques of the entertainment industry and ageism come in hot. Hacks is one of the most sharply executed shows about comedy ever—so Season 3 will likely be the last.

Crashing (2017–2019; Max): Pete Holmes’ Crashing, wherein he plays a semi-fictionalized version of himself as an aspiring standup comic, was a critical darling during its three-season run, but the most impressive aspect of the series was its guest list. Over 75 big-to-mid-name comedians, including Ray Romano, Whitney Cummings, Bill Burr, John Mulaney, and even a pre-political Dr. Oz, appeared across 24 episodes. Also, Holmes is unafraid to portray himself as having a bad set—Jerry could never do that.

I’m Dying Up Here (2017–2018; Paramount+): More of a drama than a comedy, I’m Dying Up Here is loosely based on The Comedy Store-to-Tonight Show pipeline to stardom of 1970s Los Angeles. But, the first comic of the series’ ensemble to get his big

break with Johnny Carson ends up dead by the end of episode one—yeah, it’s that dark.

The core trio of Ari Graynor, Clark Duke and Michael Angarano as struggling comedians carries I’m Dying Up Here, but the show was canceled just as it was hitting its stride.

The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015–2016; Paramount+): Jim Gaffigan at the center of a family sitcom is a no-brainer—Mr. Hot Pockets was pretty much born for the role. Like Maron and Louie (neither of which are streaming anywhere, hence their glaring exclusions from this list), The Jim Gaffigan Show is based on Gaffigan’s real comedian life, complete with a wife (Ashley Williams as Gaffigan’s spouse and co-writer Jeannie) and five(!) kids in a two-(!!) bedroom NYC apartment. Two hysterical seasons and out, perfect.

Lady Dynamite (2016–2017; Netflix): Back in Hollywood after months away in bipolar disorder recovery, Maria Bamford (Maria Bamford) is ready to get her comedy career back on track … more or less. Unlike most grounded, based-on-me comedian vehicles, Lady Dynamite is a careening, absurdist dive into Bamford’s psyche that springs forth as Looney Tunes come to life. The two-season series also features a guest list to rival that of Crashing, including Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman and even Adrian Zmed.

Legit (2013–2014; Hulu): Australian comedian Jim Jefferies doesn’t play a “heightened” version of himself in Legit, as he can’t act—it’s just him in all his blustery glory. But, he’s smart enough to share the screen with real actors, like Dan Bakkerdahl as his depression-prone pal Steve and DJ Qualls as Billy, Steve’s muscular dystrophy-stricken brother. Billy also gets most of the best storylines, all of which are treated far more sensitively than you’d expect in such an abrasive comedy. Legit is a legit lost gem. Dark Side of Comedy (2022–present; Hulu, Vice): Like a Behind the Music for comedians, the docuseries Dark Side of Comedy delves into the career highs and mostly lows of performers dead (like Chris Farley, Robin Williams and Phil Hartman), alive (Tracy Morgan, Artie Lange and Carlos Mencia), and residing in comedy purgatory (Roseanne Barr, who merits her own “WTF happened?” Dark Side spinoff series). Little of Dark Side of Comedy is funny, though Ellen DeGeneres’ fall from daytime-TV grace is hilarious. CW

Hannah

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT

Pygmalion Theatre

Co.: Mother of the Maid

As a historical figure, Joan of Arc is fascinating—a young girl with religious visions turned into military leader during a tumultuous time. It’s easy to forget that that young girl would have had a mother, and that it might have been a particularly difficult thing to deal with such a … unique child. That’s the premise behind Jane Anderson’s 2015 play Mother of the Maid, which approaches the story of Joan of Arc through the eyes of her mother, Isabelle.

Teresa Sanderson— who directs Pygmalion Productions’ staging of Mother of the Maid, with April Fossen in the role of Isabelle—says she was fascinated with Anderson’s text on every possible level, but was particularly drawn to the dynamic between the two main characters and how it speaks to complexities in parent-child relationships. “What would it be like to have a child come to you and say this?” Sanderson says. “You can imagine your child coming to you and saying a lot of things, but this? It helped me think about parenting in a different way: How do you let them blossom the right way, and how do you know what the right way is? How do you say, ‘Okay, go do that?’”

Pygmalion Productions presents Mother of the Maid at the Rose Wagner Center Black Box (138 W. 300 South) May 3 – 18, with performances Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 - $22.50; visit arttix.org to purchase tickets or for additional event information. (SR)

Hilary Thompson: Dear Mama in the Darkness

It’s one of the most nightmarish scenarios that any parent can face: a medical crisis for a child. Feelings of helplessness can become overwhelming, making it difficult to deal with or think about anything else. And many of those to whom you would ordinarily turn for help and support can’t quite understand what you’re going through.

Salt Lake City-based Certified Life Coash Hilary Thompson, however, does understand, having dealt with unimaginable reality of a child who required a heart transplant. In her new book Dear Mama in the Darkness: Encouragement to Light the Way for Parents of Medically Complex Kids, Thompson shares her insights in the form of letters written over the course of 11 years. She hopes to offer encouragement and hope to those who might not know how to take care of themselves, while they are so immersed in thinking about taking care of their child. In ways that are by turns funny and emotionally devastating, Dear Mama in the Darkness presents ways of re-imagining such challenging times in ways that can be inspiring and empowering.

Hilary Thompson presents thoughts from Dear Mama in the Darkness at two upcoming events sponsored by The King’s English Bookshop. On Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m., Thompson joins a virtual Zoom conversation, with registration available via Eventbrite at kingsenglish.com. Then, on Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m., Thompson comes to The King’s English (1511 S. 1500 East) for an in-person book signing and author meet. Visit kingsenglish.com for additional event information. (SR)

Movie May

Reviews of two new releases, plus special screenings for the month.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW

scottr@cityweekly.net

@scottrenshaw

It’s Only Life After AllBBB

Whether it was a necessity of COVID or a more deliberate artistic decision, director Alexandria Bombach’s choice to interview the members of folk-rock duo Indigo Girls—Amy Ray and Emily Saliers—mostly separately results in something more intriguing than if they’d been side-by-side throughout. The documentary tracks their 40-year musical (but never romantic, they clarify) partnership from meeting as Georgia high-school classmates, through their rise to semi-celebrity, as well as the possible impact on their career trajectory of being both openly gay and openly activist in their politics. Bombach benefits from Ray being a compulsive documenter herself, with decades worth of audio tapes and amateur video chronicling their entire career. But the best material comes in the present-day interviews, as Ray and Saliers reflect on their individual journeys, including Ray expressing her doubts about measuring up to Saliers as a songwriter, and Saliers opening up about her years of alcoholism. The two-hour run time starts to feel a bit long, and Bombach does occasionally short-change us on what seems like key details, like the time frame for

Saliers’ path towards sobriety. It’s still an enlightening piece of biographical journalism overall, thanks to the choice to focus not just on the professional life of Indigo Girls, but the personal world of each individual Indigo Girl. Available May 3 at Broadway Centre Cinemas. (NR)

Jeanne Du Barry BB

Many biographical films struggle to make the leap from “this person existed” to “yes, but why should I care”— and this is one of them. Mononymous multi-hyphenate Maïwenn co-wrote, directed and stars as Jeanne Vaubernier, a 18th-century Frenchwoman of low birth who becomes a successful courtesan, first catching the eye of nobleman Jean Du Barry (Melvil Poupaud) and eventually becoming the favored mistress of King Louis XV (Johnny Depp). Maïwenn mounts a lavish production, focusing mostly on tension between Jeanne and the king’s haughty daughters—and, eventually, the threat to Jeanne’s status created by the arrival of future queen Marie Antoinette (Pauline Pollman). But while Maïwen’s performance effectively captures the brash personality that would scandalize courtiers, there’s not much sense for what we’re supposed to glean from her rise and fall, or how much sympathy we’re supposed to have for her simply by virtue of being a thumb in the eye of the aristocracy. And the same applies to Depp’s portrayal of the King, who is sometimes interesting in his ability to make his unhappiness clear without uttering a word, yet generally seems more amused by Jeanne than genuinely affectionate towards her. The result is an odd sort of love story that expects the culture clash to be inherently worth our attention, even if the characters are thinly drawn. Available May 2 at Megaplex Jordan Commons. (NR)

May Special Screenings

Music May @ Salt Lake Film Society: Movies focusing on music and musicians take center stage at Broadway Centre Cinemas. After kicking off with the new Indigo Girls documentary It’s Only Life After All (see above), the lineup includes the Amy Winehouse documentary Amy (May 10); Stop Making Sense (May 11); Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz (May 12); Punk the Capital: Building a Sound Movement (May 17); The Decline of Western Civilization (May 18); Once (May 24); Almost Famous (May 25); Paris Blues (May 26); and May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers (May 31). slfs.org

A Tree of Life @ Park City Film Series: Director Trish Adlesic’s 2022 documentary addresses the October 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA that left eleven people dead. The free community screening takes place Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. the Park City Library, and a survivor of the shooting is scheduled to attend for a post-film Q&A and conversation. parkcityfilm.org

Napoleon Dynamite 20th anniversary celebration: The cult comedy that debuted at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival is turning 20, and it’s time to break out your tater tots and Vote for Pedro once again. The Ellen Eccles Theater in Logan hosts a special screening May 8 at 7:30 p.m. featuring guest stars Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). Tickets are $35 - $65. cachearts.org

The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes: The Dread Pirate Roberts/Westley himself, actor Cary Elwes visits the Capitol Theatre (50 W. 200 South) for screenings of the beloved 1987 fantasy/comedy on Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. to share tales and memories from the making of the film. Tickets are $29 - $149. arttix.org CW

Fun in the $un Fun in the $un

Utah gave $40 million in tax breaks to a solar company accused of fraud.

BY ERIC S. PETERSON comments@cityweekly.net

The following story was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with Salt Lake City Weekly

“Iguess you could call me a tree hugger,” said Washington state resident Tammy Crough on why she decided to install home solar power in 2023.

“I love trees, the Earth, and I think solar is a good way to capture that energy,” she said. “But I guess you could also call me sort of a prepper.”

While living in a small town “in the sticks,” 60 miles outside of Houston, Crough lived through Hurricane Ike punching her town’s lights out in 2008. She went 18 days without power, during which time she ran her appliances on a generator, took showers by candlelight and played every card and board game imaginable with her kids.

“I’ve always wanted to do right by the environment and do right in a disaster, so I’ve always just wanted solar,” she said.

In June of 2023, Crough was living in Washington state when she signed up for solar through a company called Lumio. The process was going smoothly until Lumio sent an inspector to check out her roof.

“He literally just flew a drone over my house and said, ‘Good to go!’” she said.

But when a separate contractor came to install the panels, they told her that, in fact, she had to have her whole roof replaced.

Crough got the roof replaced, but then could not get Lumio to install her solar panels, or even return her phone calls.

She waited for months before signing with a different company.

That’s when Lumio demanded she pay $2,700 for the inspection. “The only communication I got from them for six months was when I canceled it, and they wanted money that they didn’t deserve,” Crough said.

Kirt Heap was another Washington state customer who experienced the same lack of communication with Lumio—but for him, it was after the company installed his system.

The solar panels were up in the summer, and he was ready to soak up the savings, but Lumio couldn’t coordinate with his local power company to get the panels turned on for roughly five months. All the while he was paying his loan but reaping no benefits.

“There’s a time crunch here in Washington,”

Heap said. “There’s only so much of a solar producing season.”

Mychi McDole is a real estate agent in the Central Valley area of California. Living just outside of the picturesque Sequoia National Park, she had plans of turning an addition on her home into an Airbnb rental that used solar power.

But it was almost two years ago that Lumio put the panels up, and since then, McDole said, workers damaged her roof and the panels don’t function as promised. “Not only did they mess up my house, they messed up my income,” she said.

McDole also experienced a case of the disappearing salesman. “Once he got paid, he stopped answering his phone,” she said.

Utah has long held a reputation for exporting legions of door-to-door solicitors across the country, hawking everything from pest control services and home security systems to, more recently, solar panels.

The phenomenon of young, clean-cut members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints returning home from their proselytizing missions and quickly applying their door-knocking

experience to direct sales jobs was even profiled in The New York Times

Utah’s business culture has been an epicenter for door-to-door sales that in some cases is endorsed by Utah’s government with generous tax breaks.

A consumer advocate, a lawyer suing Lumio in a class-action lawsuit and former customers like McDole were all surprised to learn that Lumio had received a $40 million tax incentive from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity to keep its business headquarters in the state.

McDole has hired a lawyer and is still battling the company over her claim of roof damage and for giving her what she said is false information about tax rebates being able to offset a third of the $40,000 loan she had to take out.

When McDole heard about Lumio’s tax incentive, she was astounded.

“Where’s my fucking tax break?” she asked.

Like Uber did for the car ride’

A June 2021 Forbes article heralded the formation of Lumio as an answer to the climate crisis. Noting that Lumio resulted from the merger of five companies—Atlantic Key Energy, DECA, Lift Energy, Our World Energy and Smart Energy Today—the article described a “decentralized service platform” to shake up the solar industry, “like Uber did for the car ride.”

As a result, the company in its first month was named “a Top Five U.S. solar provider with a 12-month run rate of more than $1 billion in gross sales, over 3,500 employees covering 37 states and strategic partnerships rare in a new company.”

By this account, Lumio hit the solar market like a supernova, exploding onto the scene with immediate and spectacular success. But the company was not even a registered business entity in Utah until the fall of 2021. This registration came shortly after the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) board voted in September 2021 to award a $40 million tax incentive to Lumio in exchange for the company pledging to stay in Utah and bring 3,697 new high-paying jobs over the next 20 years.

This cloudy company history goes to the heart of a lawsuit Florida attorney Louis Gonzalez filed against Lumio in October 2023. He says the company is “playing around with the corporate structure to shield themselves from liability.”

The case was filed on behalf of Shoshana Smith, a Lehigh Park, Florida, resident who had received solar panels from Atlantic Key Energy in the fall of 2021 at a cost of $68,912.

Her complaint alleges that the panels did not produce energy for the first nine months, had other breakdowns and that workers damaged her roof installing them. Plaintiffs said the suit was brought because Lumio has refused to take responsibility for the damage.

Gonzalez said his clients experienced high-pressure sales tactics, with finance companies that immediately disburse funds to Lumio as soon as the panels are up, no matter if they work.

“The consumer doesn’t have a lot of power over the process,” Gonzalez said.

The lawsuit is in its early stages, but Gonzalez has a dozen clients and looks to sign up many more. “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of negative reviews we

referenced in our class-action complaint,” he said.

Currently, the Better Business Bureau lists Lumio as 3.09 stars out of five, with 673 complaints resolved in the past three years.

While Lumio is a new company, its principal, Greg Butterfield, was previously the CEO of Utah’s Vivint Solar but left that position in May 2016.

During Butterfield’s tenure, however, Vivint Solar emerged as a major focus of a report by the nonprofit advocates at the Campaign for Accountability. They reviewed consumer complaints related to solar panel installation filed with the Federal Trade Commission between 2012 and 2016 and found more than half were about Vivint Solar and one other company.

The report noted Vivint Solar’s history of legal battles. In 2018, the New Mexico attorney general sued the company for allegedly deceiving homeowners into being locked into long and expensive contracts.

The company denied the allegations but paid the state roughly $2 million and agreed to change its marketing practices and provide ethics training to employees. In 2019, the company also reached a settlement with the state of New Jersey over similar allegations.

Campaign for Accountability spokesman Michael Clauw said what’s most troubling is the number of victims who might not be tech savvy enough to research a sales pitch. “A lot of the victims of these deceptive actions are often seniors who might have less technological literacy to go online and Google a company or a sale,” Clauw said.

Jacob Whiton is a research analyst at Good Jobs First, a national organization promoting accountability in publicly funded economic development programs. He says not awarding incentives to companies with bad consumer track records should be a “no brainer”—but it’s not.

“It seems like common sense—right?—that companies which have received regular violations should not be receiving subsidies for private investment,” he said. “And yet, you would be shocked how little we see that reflected in the sort of statutory requirements governing these programs.”

While many states bar companies with legal or regulatory actions against them from receiving state contracts, few prohibit tax incentives for the same reason.

Lumio refused multiple requests for an interview, initially criticizing the Utah Investigative Journalism Projects’ reporter as illegitimate after demanding they provide a formal license or credential, something that does not exist in Utah.

Later, after receiving detailed questions related to the allegations in this report, Lumio attorney Michael Green defended the company in a written statement.

“Lumio is committed to doing the right thing for our customers. We inherited some issues through the acquisition of a regional company with some low-level sales managers whose practices were in direct violation of our established policies and manner of doing business. We have terminated our relationship with the responsible parties and closely monitor this matter to satisfy customer concerns and re-establish goodwill.”

Green continued: “The allegations in pending litigation in no way reflect Lumio’s institutional practices.”

Lumio has denied allegations against it in its lawsuits. Butterfield, who co-founded Lumio, stepped down as CEO at the end of 2023.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant Transparency is not just a concern for consumers. The activities and performance of Lumio in the state don’t allow for a lot of sunlight.

Under state law, the GOEO closely guards information about company incentives to protect their business interests. Audits and performance compliance reviews of companies are not public. The agency cannot even confirm if an audit or review has happened.

While the GOEO will publicly announce a company’s long-term goal, the company will receive annual tax breaks based on a yearly forecast of jobs created—a forecast that is determined by the company. The company also doesn’t even have to hit that yearly goal, it just has to meet at least 50% of its projection.

The GOEO utilizes multiple state agencies to provide oversight of a company to make sure it earns its tax break, but there isn’t anything in the state contract that would penalize the company or terminate its incentive if the company was found guilty of civil or criminal fraud or cited by a state or federal consumer protection agency. One section of the contract requires the company to comply with the law in Utah and elsewhere, but it defines no penalties for a company that doesn’t.

Asked about the possibility, the GOEO in a statement said: “We would take these very seriously.”

According to the state contract, a tax liability could be imposed against a company if it was shown to have misled the state about job creation or state income tax.

But other possible crimes wouldn’t necessarily affect the deal. GOEO was asked if past legal complaints against Vivint Solar had been weighed by the board in awarding the incentive to Lumio, and the GOEO refused to answer the question.

GOEO was also asked if GOEO board chair Carine Clark had a conflict of interest in approving Lumio’s 2021 incentive. According to the GOEO website, she is currently listed as chief innovation officer for Lumio. In an email, GOEO spokesperson Tony Young clarified that Clark did not work for Lumio when the incentive was awarded in September 2021—she became an executive there in May 2022 but does not hold an ownership interest in the company.

“ The consumer doesn’t have a lot of power over the process. ” —Louis

Gonzalez,

attorney for previous Lumio customers

Katie Hass directs the Utah Division of Consumer Protection

Mea$ure

Twice

Lumio’s influence in state government is opaque in other ways. Shortly after Lumio was created and won its incentive, the corporate attorney for the company, Nathan Sumbot, formed a company called Oakwood Consulting.

That consulting company made $49,450 in campaign contributions to various lawmakers and Gov. Spencer Cox from 2021 to 2023.

Sumbot previously worked as counsel for former Gov. Gary Herbert, under whom Cox had served as lieutenant governor. In an interview, Sumbot said he knew Cox while he worked for Herbert but that he has not talked to Gov. Cox about Lumio.

The lobbyist for Oakwood—Adam Gardiner, who has long been active in politics and previously worked as state director for Sen. Mitt Romney—said there’s nothing improper about the campaign donations. He noted that Lumio pays him a fee, and he uses part of that to make contributions to elected officials.

“I use some of my business money to make donations to legislators, all of which is disclosed,” he said. While Gardiner said Lumio would not tell him who to donate to, the company knew he was using part of their fee to make campaign donations.

“That’s part of why anyone would hire a lobbyist,” he said. “They know I do all this stuff; that’s why I think I’m hired.”

For Florida attorney Gonzalez, it’s troubling that so many bad actors in the industry take cover in the public’s recognition that solar is key to a healthy future.

“These companies are hiding under this white cape,” Gonzalez said. “[They’re] really flying under the radar because no one is looking at this industry as one that has bad conduct.” CW

Katie Hass is the director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. She warns that Utahns need to slow down fast-moving sales pitches and do their homework.

“[You] don’t have to make a decision so quickly,” Hass said. “You’re not rude to ask someone to go away from your doorstep.” Here’s some other key tips:

• Get your own loan: Shop around for loans for solar—don’t just go with the company recommended by the salesman. “You should make sure you have control,” Hass said.

• Check with your power company: They can fact-check a salesperson’s claims on energy savings.

• Do your homework : Check different companies, talk to your neighbors and also visit dcp.utah.gov where you can search to see if the state has taken legal action against a company or placed them on a Buyer Beware list.

• File a complaint: If a Utah company ripped you off, but you live out of Utah, you can still file a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protections, and they will investigate the company.

DINE

Stick ’Em Up

Bonnie & Clyde’s is on a sandwich spree in downtown SLC.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

I’ve seen the speakeasy concept pop up a few times during my trips around the Wasatch Front, but it’s typically reserved for the nightspots around town. That’s all good and well, but who says a bit of stylized, prohibition-era nostalgia need only be reserved for the nighttime crowd?

If you’ve ever pondered this question, then you’ll want to check out the recently opened Bonnie & Clyde’s. It’s a full-service coffee shop, bakery and deli that pulls a lot of inspiration from the era in which the doomed couple was at the height of their infamy.

According to the restaurant’s website, the name refers back to a time before fastfood chains and customer loyalty programs, when a neighborhood coffee shop was simply a spot to kick off our collective workday. Sure, there’s a bit of edge that comes from taking a name from the historical bank-robbing couple, but I think it works for Bonnie & Clyde’s. Today’s collective workday has us romanticizing stickin’ it to the man more than ever, so grabbing eats at a spot named for a couple of lawbreakers matches that energy.

Of course, this is not to say the climate and service at Bonnie & Clyde’s is anything but amenable; this place is pretty adorable on the inside. Immediately to the right of the entrance is a rustic bookshelf, stuffed with antiques and

concealing a door that leads further into the restaurant—just don’t mess with it right now, as things are still under construction. The antique-chic decor blends pretty seamlessly with the modern wall art and table settings, and I loved watching a muted Western flick while a playlist of early 2000s alt-rock blasted out of the speakers.

Dining at Bonnie & Clyde’s presents a lot of the options you’d expect from a sandwich-and-pastry kind of joint. They do manage to stand out from the crowd by offering breakfast sandos all day, and by offering extended hours; they close at 8 p.m. every day except Sunday. I get that sandwiches have been pigeonholed into being something you can only eat at lunch, but there’s something to be said of getting a sandwich like The Philly ($15) right around dinner time.

As you might guess, The Philly is Bonnie & Clyde’s rendition of a cheesesteak sandwich, and it’s got plenty going for it. The first thing I noticed—and you’ll notice this with every sandwich you get here—is the quality of the bread. The Italian hoagie roll that comes with The Philly, for example, is an exceptional specimen. It’s hefty enough to hold all that chopped sirloin, gooey melted gruyere, sauteed onions and peppers, but it still yields nicely to each bite.

The innards of this sandwich work well to create a cheesesteak vibe, though the sirloin is a bit more akin to birria than the typical sliced-and-grilled method. That’s not really a gripe by any stretch—I’ll take birria on a cheesesteak sandwich any day of the week—but it might help to call this out for those expecting something a bit more traditional. I’d also like to take a moment to plug the fries ($5) at Bonnie & Clyde’s. I ordered them for my daughter

who had been craving fries all day, and when they arrived, I was a little taken aback by how good they were: perfectly cooked, tossed with just the right amount of salt and black pepper. I’d have to recommend you snag an order with your meal. They also come in Cajun ($5.50) or parmesan ($6) variations for the discerning fry fan.

On the cold sandwich front, your best bet is the Club House Massacre ($13.50). Not only does this sandwich boast perhaps the coolest sandwich name in the history of deli menus, it’s also an unapologetic take on those dainty toasted triangles that usually come to mind when talking club sandwiches. It’s got a generous helping of shaved turkey that is dressed up with some butter lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese and juniper dijon mustard, but that stack of candied bacon on top is what puts this sandwich over the edge. Stuffed between two thick slices of toasted sourdough, each bite of this sandwich is a delight.

For breakfast, The Becky ($8.99) is my current favorite. It’s simple—two eggs, lots of bacon and melty havarti cheese served on a toasty kaiser roll—but it’s also a banger of a way to start your morning. I’d also recommend snagging a bagel and shmear ($5.50) as something quick and tasty if you’re in a hurry. Of course, the entire pastry menu at Bonnie & Clyde’s is a good bet for any diners on the go; their cronuts ($4.50) are great from both a flavor and texture standpoint. Its location right on 600 South and Main Street makes Bonnie & Clyde’s an ideal spot for diners on the run or those looking for a more leisurely lunch. Based on my experiences here, there’s not a bad option regardless of which category in which you find yourself. CW

E 2100 S Sugar House

2 Row Brewing

6856 S. 300 West, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Midnight Especial- Dark Mexican Lager

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Irish Lager

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

On Tap: Boho Extra Dry Lager

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: Mesogose - Miso Sour with Yuzu & Ginger

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: Gungan Sith Lord - Dark Lager

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  La Playa-Mexican Style lager

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Horchata Cream Ale

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

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

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

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

On Tap: Guava Goddess

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Limited Release IPA - Citra & Nelson Hops - 7.0% ABV

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Our brand new Helles!

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST

550 So. 300 West #100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Philly Sour Fruit Bat

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  Bulliet Bourbon barrel-aged Brown

Mountain West Cider

425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Pomme Paloma- Grapefruit & Hopped Cider collab with Pink Boots Society

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

Ogden Beer Company

358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenRiverBrewing.com

On Tap: Injector Hazy IPA

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: Jalapeno Ale

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

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

On Tap: Cached Out Hefeweisen -- Now available to go!

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

Proper Brewing: SLC Pils - Pilsner

Proper Burger: Salted Caramel PorterPorter Brewed with Caramel and Salt

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

On Tap: YRJB - Juicy IPA

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

Red Rock Brewing

254 So. 200 West

RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Munich Dunkel

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project

30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Draft: 7 C’s (IPA brewers with 7 ‘C’ Hops for our 7th Anny, April 20)

Brewers Select: MEGA Cloud Seeding Hazy IPA

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations

RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Pineapple Sour Seltzer

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

On Tap: Chocolate cherry stout on draft

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: Luau Rider - Coconut Chocolate Milk Stout

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

On Tap: Scion Oaked Strangler 7.1% ABV

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

On Tap: White Sangria Cider

Shades Brewing

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

On Tap: Foggy Goggle Winter Lager Live Music:  Thursdays

Shades On State

366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Hellion Blonde Ale

Silver Reef

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

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co.

147 W. Broadway, SLC

saltlakebrewingco.com/squatters

On Tap:  S Salt Lake Brewing Co’s Staycation Pilsner

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery 1763 So 300 West Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Holy Haze IPA 5% Love Local new release April 26 Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

BEER NERD

Tag Teams

Sampling the best full-flavored one-two punch around.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Normally I try to find a theme with the beer selections I come up with every week, But for this column I couldn’t resist tag-teaming these two very different ales to let the both shineon with their respective uniqueness.

Saltfire Chocolate Cherry Pie Stout: This one is as dark as can be—black black black, with a faint red/brown tone as you swirl it in the glass. There is definitely carbonation present similar to the classic foreign stouts, however this dark brew is much lighter in viscosity. A coffee-brown head forms and then is gone, shortly after leaving some brown lacing on the glass. Heavy notes of cherry, bitter chocolate and some roasty malts are present. The cherry scent is all medium to light, with char noticeable in the nose as well. A lot of the chocolate bitterness is mellow, and works well with the roasted malts. Cherry is the first thing I tasted, quickly followed by a heavy dose of bitter chocolate. The sweet cherry was expected, but at the same time, it wasn’t, though the overall balance seemed to work. The bitter dark chocolate added some polish to the fruit, taking it to a place that was more refined. Towards the finish, there was plenty of roast coming through, with a bit of the bitter chocolate lingering. Little to none of the 5.0 percent alcohol was noticeable. Once the glass is on the table the aftertaste has a residual sweetness, followed by a more muted bitterness of the chocolate. The roasted taste is much more noticeable at the end, along with a creamy mouthfeel with this draft stout. It’s not coating like you might think, but it does

scream “stout.” or even a light porter due to some slight ashiness.

Verdict: All-in-all, this is a wellrounded, fruited stout; I wish I’d had the sense to bring a growler. I enjoyed the cherry notes more than I thought I would, and the creamy mouthfeel as I worked though it was awesome. I loved this beer.

RoHa - 7 C’s: This beer was brewed to celebrate the RoHa Brewing Project’s 7th anniversary. It’s an American-style pale ale that was brewed with Cascade, Columbus, Chinook, Centennial, Comet, Cashmir & Citra hops (the seven C’s). Subtle is not what I’m finding, as I can smell the hops in that ale from a foot away; it’s all floral and super botanical. As I get my sniffer right on top of it, the bouquet shifts to dank and weedy, with flowery pine resin and light citrus zest.

Hops rule the show here—and as it was originally released on 4/20, the tastes here reflect that date’s special number, as it is quite cannabis-esque. The hop assault can be overwhelming at times but there are opportunities (if you’re looking) to find toasted grains and light caramel malts along with toned-down grapefruit and a floral spiciness. Those caramel-bready malts are sure there, and that’s what one should expect in a pale ale.

Verdict: It’s billed as “an American Pale Ale with a twist,” and I get that on the palate. I really get caramel and stone/grapefruit, with that sticky-icky, piney-funk. It’s got a nice 5.0 percent mouthfeel, and a dry enough finish that it leaves me wanting more. It’s not a super-expressive, post-modern, “hip” pale ale—and I like that.

Pursue these sooner rather than later, as they are both limited releases, and for the most part are exclusive to their respective breweries. RoHa and Saltfire are close enough to each other (six blocks), so you could easily bike or walk on this mini full-flavored adventure. As always, cheers!

BEER + PIZZA = <3

SUN-THU: 11am - 10pm • FRI-SAT: 11am - 11pm

Ramen & Sushi Bar

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

NHMU Utah Food Festival

Those interested in taking a deep dive into the science and culture of our local cuisine while sampling a bit for good measure will want to check out the Utah Food Festival at the Natural History Museum of Utah this weekend. The event promises to be jam-packed with workshops, familyfriendly activities and plenty of tasty local eats. Our friends at Harmons, Caputos and Wasatch Community Gardens are only a few of the local food organizations that will be hosting workshops, and the event will feature a wide list of locally produced tasting samples throughout the event. It’s all happening at NHMU on May 4 - 5 during the museum’s operating hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tacos and Margs Crawl in Downtown SLC

Bar Crawl Nation will be hosting a taco and margarita bar crawl on May 4 to help kick off any Cinco de Mayo celebrations you’ve got planned for Sunday. The event will kick off at Gracie’s (326 S. West Temple) at 2 p.m. From there, you can plan your own taco-and-margarita-fueled mosey to the participating venues which include The Green Pig Pub, Twist and London Belle. Each venue will be offering drink and taco specials for event participants, and completing the crawl will earn you some money to spend on Bar Crawl Nation’s merch site. What better way to get out there and enjoy the warmer weather than with tacos and margaritas?

Derby Day at Laurel Brasserie and Bar

We may be just over 1,500 miles from Kentucky, but that doesn’t mean Derby fans have to miss out on an excuse to dress up and talk equestrian athletics for Derby Day. The team at Laurel Brasserie and Bar inside the Grand America (555 S. Main Street) will be hosting a Derby Day celebration on May 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best Derby Day attire—extravagant hats are a must—for an event that will feature house-made peach and bourbon smashes along with traditional mint juleps. Live music and Kentucky Derby coverage will also be featured at the event, so dig out that fancy hat and brush up on your derby terms this weekend.

Quote of the Week: “It’s 4:58 on a Friday afternoon. Do you know where your margarita is?” –Amy Neftzger

THE BEEHIVE

Weft and Warp

SLC band Loom weaves musical tapestries

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

Bands often take established genres and put their own twist on them to create something recognizable, yet unique. SLC group Loom does that, but takes it to a whole new level—incorporating elements from rock, jazz, funk and disco, Loom also predominantly uses improvisation to create their signature brand of musical tapestry.

FEATURE MUSIC

The name of the band stems from the love the group has for improvisation, referencing the way they combine the different threads that make up their music into something intricate. “We wanted something that referenced the music that we like to make and play, which is a lot of improv, a lot of improvisation, a lot of jamming, a lot of communicating and really weaving sounds together,” said bassist Vince DiMichele.

A loom has a few moving parts, two of the most important being the weft and warp. The warp thread functions as the skeleton of the weave, and holds the tension while weaving; it is normally strung vertically over the loom. The weft thread is used to weave between the warp threads horizontally. “The loom is the machine, and the machine is the band or the music, and the audience is the warp,” said guitarist/vocalist Billy Rogan. “I guess the music is the weft and the loom is us. Hopefully, by the end of the experience of the show and our improvisational process, we have a tapestry of music that people can dance

upon and get down with.”

Because of their love of improv, no two Loom shows will ever be the same—that’s why it’s a special experience each time you see them. Playing the shows is just as special for the band members themselves. A structured and planned-out show just doesn’t hit the same. “For me, it’s the not-knowing, and it’s probably the most fun,” Rogan said. “I feel it’s a form of meditation, and when things are going really good, if you’re in that flow state, you find out you learn a lot about your ability, your own vocabulary.”

Loom have found themselves playing a lot of “themed” shows, including a Presidents’ Day show at Powder Mountain, eclipses, Halloween and New Year’s. The theme for their next show is the unofficial Kilby Block Party afterparty on Friday, May 10 at The State Room. Thousands of people will be flocking in to see the epic lineup for this year’s KBP, but to wind down the evening, showgoers can go see Loom to top off a perfect day of live music.

“But what if I’m too tired from rocking my socks off at KBP to go to another show,” you may be asking as you learn of

Loom’s upcoming show, and you happen to be attending KBP. Loom has a multiple part answer for that. First, The State Room is very close to the fairgrounds where KBP is being held, so getting there is pretty easy. Plus, Loom will have friends driving pedicabs to The State Room for the show if they want to attend.

Also, the Cutthroat Burger food truck will be hanging out outside the venue for hungry showgoers. They have an entire menu full of mouthwatering burgers, perfect to fill the bellies of KBP rockers. And finally, half of The State Room is seated, so weary concert goers can also snag a seat if they need to.

While this show is offering a lot of comforts, Loom doesn’t plan to take the evening lightly. “We have no intention of playing it safe at all, in any regard,” Rogan said. “Folks are going to be pretty surprised at what it is that we’re going to be doing sonically, because we’re stepping a little bit more outside of our wheelhouse.”

“It’s definitely something we have not done before. It’s going to be for our friends and fans who have seen us before,” DiMichele added. “You’re going to get Loomed,

don’t you worry. But there’s a lot of special surprises. I think it’s going to be awesome.”

All this to say, Loom’s KBP afterparty is going to be a great time. Each of their shows is completely unique due to their love of improv, but they play to try out new sounds at this one in particular. Loom is an incredible up-and-coming group that listeners of many genres can enjoy because of how they employ and incorporate so many different types of sounds. They love experimenting, and are looking forward to building a bigger fanbase in SLC.

“It is an experience that we’re trying to bring to the Salt Lake music scene that we haven’t really found yet,” Rogan said. “We want to deliver a sonic experience that is memorable and face-melting,” DiMichele added. “We joke all the time that our goal is to have someone shit their pants at our show. So…” Perhaps this KBP afterparty will be just the right recipe to make that happen.

Make sure to catch Loom on Friday, May 10 at The State Room for their epic afterparty. Tickets for the 21+ show are $20 and can be found at thestateroompresents.com. CW

THURSDAYS

FRIDAY, MAY 3

SATURDAY, MAY 4

SHARK SUNDAYS POOL TOURNEY HOSTED BY TANNER

MONDAYS

REGGAE MONDAY WITH DJ NAPO TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS KARAOKE

MUSIC PICK S

Mannequin Pussy, Soul Glo @ Soundwell 5/2

“To be feminine is to be profane,” Mannequin Pussy front person Marisa Dabice told The New Yorker last month. One day, the band woke up to find that their music was gone from TikTok, dubbed “too obscene”—but there are still plenty of “obscene” songs on the app, the only difference being that they’re penned by men. The Philadelphia-based punk band’s music is now back on the app, however. “They reprogrammed their algorithms,” Dabice said. “Now the only type of pussy that can be searched on TikTok is mannequin.” While there are plenty of obscenities in Mannequin Pussy’s work (you can’t have punk without the obscenities), they’re not useless ones. “When I sit down to write lyrics, I spend a lot of time really wavering over what those words are going to be,” Dabice said. “They’re not just magazine-flips through obscurity, stringing random words together. There’s an intentional meaning that’s been labored over, because there aren’t that many moments in our life that we get to say something. How often do we actually get to say something?” Come catch Mannequin Pussy in all their glory on Thursday, May 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $22.50 at soundwellslc.com (Emilee Atkinson)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 EVAN MICHAEL

THURSDAY, MAY 2 REGGAE THURSDAY LEOPARD SKIN ZEBRAS

TUESDAY,

FRIDAY, MAY 3 MEANDER CAT

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

MUSIC PICK S

Merchants of Venice, Flannel Daydream, The Schwacksters @ Boardwalk Sound 5/3

What’s better than witnessing the next generation of up-and-coming bands? It’s amazing to see the youth carrying on traditions of the music world, but also putting their spin on things. If you’re a fan of supporting local acts, and especially up and coming youngins, this is the show for you. On the bill for the evening, you’ll find Provo rockers Merchants of Venice, queued up with keytar in hand, they’re sure to put on a great show with some of their great new tracks. Merchants of Venice includes an interesting mix of musicians. “What happens when you take a Progressive Rock Keyboardist, a Virtuoso Classical Violist, a Folk Blues Guitarist, a Metal Bassist and a Funk Jazz Drummer and put them in the Provo indie scene? Listen and find out,” they say on their Spotify profile. Also on the bill are high school students Flannel Daydream, who come with their infectious energy and excellent knack for covers. Last but certainly not least is The Schwacksters who bring an addicting alt-rock sound to the table. Their most recent single “Scared of the Dark” is a perfect goth anthem, or just a great track for when you’re in a spooky mood. Come catch this great trio of local acts on Friday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 and can be found at theboardwalksound.com. (EA)

Blanke @ The Complex 5/4

John Paul Orchison, known professionally as Blanke, can be described as melodic, aggressive and fresh. The Australian electronic music producer and DJ got his big break in the scene on Ministry Of Sound’s Downright Music label in 2015 with a remix of Death Ray Shake’s “Not Many If Any,” and has very much come into his own sound since then. He is known for impeccable live mixing, with a good variety of heavy and melodic sounds. For some, his sound may seem a little all over the place; however, this is also a strength for those who do not want to be put in a box. His newest album, Emergence, was released just a month ago, and includes songs like “Heaven” and “Turmoil”—both names perfectly describe the juxtapositions he embodies. On his Spotify page, Blanke says, “I love making melodic music that makes u want to cry just as much as i love making music that sounds like the apocalypse. Don’t say i didn’t warn you.” The tour includes an early set by ÆON:MODE, his Drum & Bass Alias as well as DJ and producer duo, RIOT. The Earth To The Stars: Emergence tour for Blanke by V2 Presents is at The Complex this Saturday, May 4. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $27.50. Go to v2presents.com. (Arica Roberts)

Adam Ant @ Eccles Theatre 5/5

Adam Ant is an ideal example of how an artist can overcome an early image. A leader among the glam-rock brigades that shaped the sounds, styles and sentiment of Britain’s so-called New Wave in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Ant—born Stuart Leslie Goddard—and his namesake outfit, Adam and the Ants, became a popular sensation courtesy of their over-the-top image and a series of songs so overtly infectious, one couldn’t resist falling prey to their giddy charms.

While the Sex Pistols’ Svengali, Malcolm McLaren, nearly subverted Ant’s efforts by appropriating the early Ants for his new group Bow Wow Wow, Ant managed to rebound with a new band and a series of hits that included “Stand and Deliver,” “Prince Charming” and his debut solo single, “Goody Two Shoes.” Now, some 40 years later, a more mature Adam Ant has redefined his image and evolved to be considered a serious singer/songwriter. Nevertheless, been more than 10 years have passed since the release of his last album, the curiously-dubbed Adam Ant is the Blueback Hussar in Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter, while inexplicable concert cancellations have plagued him as well. Consequently, a certain curiosity factor is bound to cause natural ant-icipation. Consider it yet another opportunity to ascend the Adam Ant hill while allowing the Ant Man himself another opportunity to stand and deliver. Adam Ant brings his Antmusic 2024 tour to Delta Hall at the Eccles on Sunday, May 5 at 8 p.m. with special guests The Beat. Tickets cost $55 - $209 at arttix.org. (Lee Zimmerman)

& Steve

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are guitar masters of the highest order. They collaborated on original music for the first time ever with their release of the single “The Sea Of Emotion, Pt. 1” earlier this year, an almost six-minute tune that serves as a love letter to ’70s rock and a celebration of their 50-year-long friendship. It showcases the unparalleled harmony between mentor and mentee, as they perfectly flip solo sections throughout the active piece. It’s not just about technically-challenging playing, but also melodies that stand on their own. “When some of those more popular, fast guitar players were wailing about, it spawned a whole new school of thought based on fast playing,” Vai told Guitarworld. “But when Joe’s album [Surfing with the Alien] came along, I think that it actually started changing the mentality regarding fast guitar playing. It’s saying, yeah, it’s important to be able to play fast but it’s not the only thing there is.” Both of these axe-wielding gods always seem to pick what suits the song first and write solos that fit the compositions they’re in. However, if they do throw down, expect it to be musically tasteful, and not shredding for the sake of shredding.

The aptly named “Satch/Vai” tour marks another first, as this is the debut run of these long-time friends touring as a double-bill.

Hopefully it will not be the last. Catch these musicians at the Eccles on Wednesday, May 8. Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the all-ages show range from $45 to $115 and can be found at arttix.org (Mark Dago)

Joe Satriani

Vai @ Eccles Theatre 5/8

Blanke

Andam Ant

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

The world’s record for jumping rope in 6 inches of mud is held by an Aries. Are you surprised? I’m not. So is the world’s record for consecutive wallops administered to a plastic inflatable punching doll. Other top accomplishments performed by Aries people: longest distance walking on one’s hands, number of curse words uttered in two minutes, and most push-ups with three bulldogs sitting on one’s back. As impressive as these feats are, I hope you will channel your drive for excellence in more constructive directions during the coming weeks. Astrologically speaking, you are primed to be a star wherever you focus your ambition on high-minded goals. Be as intense as you want to be while having maximum fun giving your best gifts.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

I don’t casually invoke the terms “marvels,” “splendors” and “miracles.” Though I am a mystic, I also place a high value on rational thinking and skeptical proof. If someone tells me a marvel, splendor or miracle has occurred, I will thoroughly analyze the evidence. Having said that, though, I want you to know that during the coming weeks, marvels, splendors and miracles are far more likely than usual to occur in your vicinity—even more so if you have faith that they will. I will make a similar prediction about magnificence, sublimity and resplendence. They are headed your way. Are you ready for blessed excess? For best results, welcome them all generously and share them lavishly.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend you enjoy a celebratory purge sometime soon. You could call it a Cleansing Jubilee, or a Gleeful Festival of Purification, or a Jamboree of Cathartic Healing. This would be a fun holiday that lasted for at least a day and maybe as long as two weeks. During this liberating revel, you would discard anything associated with histories you want to stop repeating. You’d get rid of garbage and excess. You may even thrive by jettisoning perfectly good stuff that you no longer have any use for.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Graduation day will soon arrive. Congrats, Cancerian! You have mostly excelled in navigating through a labyrinthine system that once upon a time discombobulated you. With panache and skill, you have wrangled chaos into submission and gathered a useful set of resources. So are you ready to welcome your big rewards? Prepared to collect your graduation presents? I hope so. Don’t allow lingering fears of success to cheat you out of your well-deserved harvest. Don’t let shyness prevent you from beaming like a champion in the winner’s circle. PS: I encourage you to meditate on the likelihood that your new bounty will transform your life almost as much as did your struggle to earn it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Ritualist and author Sobonfu Somé was born in Burkina Faso but spent many years teaching around the world. According to her philosophy, we should periodically ask ourselves two questions: 1. “What masks have been imposed on us by our culture and loved ones?” 2. “What masks have we chosen for ourselves to wear?” According to my astrological projections, the coming months will be an excellent time for you to ruminate on these inquiries—and take action in response. Are you willing to remove your disguises to reveal the hidden or unappreciated beauty that lies beneath? Can you visualize how your life may change if you will intensify your devotion to expressing your deepest, most authentic self?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

If human culture were organized according to my principles, there would be over 8 billion religions—one for every person alive. Eight billion altars. Eight billion saviors. If anyone wanted to enlist priestesses, gurus and other spiritual intermediaries to help them out in their worship, they would be encouraged. And we would all borrow beliefs and rituals from each other. There would be an extensive trade

of clues and tricks about the art of achieving ecstatic union with the Great Mystery. I bring this up, Virgo, because the coming weeks will be an ideal time for you to craft your own personalized and idiosyncratic religious path.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Hidden agendas and simmering secrets will soon leak into view. Intimate mysteries will become even more intimate and more mysterious. Questions that have been half-suppressed will become pressing and productive. Can you handle this much intrigue, Libra? Are you willing to wander through the amazing maze of emotional teases to gather clues about the provocative riddles? I think you will have the poise and grace to do these things. If I’m right, you can expect deep revelations to appear and long-lost connections to re-emerge. Intriguing new connections are also possible. Be on high alert for subtle revelations and nuanced intuitions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

It’s fun and easy to love people for their magnificent qualities and the pleasure you feel when they’re nice to you. What’s more challenging is to love the way they disappoint you. Now pause a moment and make sure you register what I just said. I didn’t assert that you should love them even if they disappoint you. Rather, I invited you to love them because they disappoint you. In other words, use your disappointment to expand your understanding of who they really are, and thereby develop a more inclusive and realistic love for them. Regard your disappointment as an opportunity to deepen your compassion—and as a motivation to become wiser and more patient. (PS: In general, now is a time when so-called “negative” feelings can lead to creative breakthroughs and a deepening of love.)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

I assure you that you don’t need “allies” who encourage you to indulge in delusions or excesses. Nor do I recommend that you seek counsel from people who think you’re perfect. But you could benefit from colleagues who offer you judicious feedback. Do you know any respectful and perceptive observers who can provide advice about possible course corrections you could make? If not, I will fill the role as best as I can. Here’s one suggestion: Consider phasing out a mild pleasure and a small goal so you can better pursue an extra fine pleasure and a major goal.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

I invite you to take an inventory of what gives you pleasure, bliss and rapture. It’s an excellent time to identify the thrills that you love most. When you have made a master list of the fun and games that enhance your intelligence and drive you half-wild with joy, devise a master plan to ensure you will experience them as much as you need to—not just in the coming weeks, but forever. As you do, experiment with this theory: By stimulating delight and glee, you boost your physical, emotional and spiritual health.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Aquarian author Lewis Carroll said, “You know what the issue is with this world? Everyone wants some magical solution to their problem, and everyone refuses to believe in magic.” In my astrological opinion, this won’t be an operative theme for you in the coming weeks, Aquarius. I suspect you will be inclined to believe fervently in magic, which will ensure that you attract and create a magical solution to at least one of your problems—and probably more.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Which would you prefer in the coming weeks: lots of itches, prickles, twitches and stings? Or, instead, lots of tingles, quivers, shimmers and soothings? To ensure the latter types of experiences predominate, all you need to do is cultivate moods of surrender, relaxation, welcome and forgiveness. You will be plagued with the aggravating sensations only if you resist, hinder, impede and engage in combat. Your assignment is to explore new frontiers of

receptivity.

Java Developer (JD-TD) in Midvale, UT. Dvlp the shared flows for common functionality. Work w/architects to create new API patterns. Telecommuting within area of intended employment. BS followed by 5yrs prog rltd exp. Send resumes to Zions Bancorporation at ZionsCareers@zionsbancorp. com. Must reference job title & code in subject line.

urban LIVING

Now That You’ve Filed

The deadline to file your income taxes has come and gone, and I’ll bet there are a lot of homeowners out there who aren’t aware that there are many taxdeductible improvements that could help defer their overall taxes.

I’m not a CPA, but if any of these legit deductions ring true with your situation, you could probably amend your return to take advantage of the work you’ve done. Here are several that I suggest you review:

Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit: The credit for 2024 is 30% of the expenses you incurred to install energy savers like Energy Star HVAC systems, Biomass stoves that burn pellets and grasses and exterior windows that might be able to improve air flow in your home as well as reduce the amount of time you use your furnace or air conditioner.

Going solar is an obvious nobrainer to not only get a simple tax deduction, but to help save the planet. I recall driving from St. George to Hurricane years ago, and all I could see on the horizon were beautifully colored hills and dunes. Now, it’s a landscape of new residential and commercial construction, with only a rare few that have solar panels on their roofs.

As residents face ever-declining water resources and ever-increasing energy costs from big utility companies, it’s beyond me why there aren’t local and state regs requiring new construction/ developers to use solar to power things like water heaters and air conditioners.

Certainly, I don’t wish to pick on Washington County, because along the Wasatch Front, the high-rises that have gone up recently also stand out as having no major energy-saving systems other than Energy Star appliances and HVAC systems. We’re not seeing rooftop solar systems on these skyscrapers to power even simple things like common-area lighting, swimming pool pumps, elevators, etc.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. President and Supreme Court justice

5. Hockey players, slangily

11. Kangaroo move

14. Spaghetti ___ carbonara

15. Pavlovian response

16. Reddit Q&A session, briefly

17. Instruction at a bench

19. Powerful connections

20. Amino and folic

21. Salt, in chem class

22. Kardashian matriarch

23. Choose from a menu

25. Opinion

27. NHL #1 draft pick of 1984 and Pittsburgh

Penguins superstar

33. Music stack

36. Lisa of “Melrose Place”

37. Talk nonsense

38. Pepper’s intensity

40. Activity units that may be counted

42. Affirm decidedly

43. Roast host

45. Jamaican sectarian

47. Snaky-shaped letter

48. Partier who bails early, maybe

51. Allergy symptom

52. Maker of Wayfarer sunglasses

56. Uncertain

58. Longtime Israeli diplomat Abba

62. Prefix with surgeon

63. Luau offering

64. Bad dancer’s excuse

66. Hammer throw trajectory

67. Sandwich on a press

68. Pound, foot, or foot-pound

69. Meet with

70. Sentence structure

71. Solitary

DOWN

1. Cantina hors d’oeuvres

2. Pulitzer-winning novelist Walker

3. Swing out of control

4. Like some long bicycles

5. Map abbr.

6. French city near Omaha Beach

7. “Frozen II” queen

8. 1099-___ (IRS form)

9. Develop gradually

10. Grandma, in Grantham

11. It’s not an extension

12. “Present” and “potent” leader

13. “Do not ___ Go”

18. Only “Sesame Street” Muppet whose name is in the NATO phonetic alphabet (until Tango showed up)

22. Actress Knightley

24. Speaker of baseball’s Hall of Fame

26. Devilish sort

28. Opening bit

29. “Big Chicken Shaq” figure

30. Temporary loss of judgment

31. Four Corners tribe

32. Gen-___ (postboom babies)

33. Job title that gets a “yes”?

34. Singer Lovato

35. Give up

39. Cranky

41. Myanmar flag feature

44. “And so forth”

46. ___-garde

49. What “Tao” means

50. Quite a sight

53. Good, to Guillermo

54. “The results ___!”

55. Night in Naples

Historic home renovation: As the chair of the Salt Lake City Historic Landmarks Commission, I can’t begin to tell you how many tax credits and deductions you may be missing out on if you live in a historic home that you are currently renovating or planning on doing so. The credits can help not just with taxes but can save you money in the long run and can be for things as simple as replacing roof beams, old pipes and electrical, etc.

There’s a 20% nonrefundable tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic buildings that are owner-occupied or used as rentals. For more more information, contact the Utah State Historic Preservation Office at 801-245-7244 or online at slc.gov/historic-preservation. Wait, there’s more! There are tax credits for retrofitting a property to provide access for disabled people, deductions if you add a home office or install a home security system, and massive deductions/credits for rental property improvements, etc. For best

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to

9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

56. Bitter bar orders

57. Links warning

59. West Germany’s capital

60. Came down to the ground

61. “99 Luftballons” German singer

64. Rolls over a house?

65. Mend

NEWS of the WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

Compelling Explanation

Larry Doil Sanders, 55, of Allen, Oklahoma, was convicted on April 17 of first-degree murder in the killing of his friend, Jimmy Glenn Knighten, 52, in July 2022. The Ada News reported that Sanders and Knighten were fishing together when Sanders believed he saw three sasquatch-looking figures near the river. After strangling Knighten, who he thought had been acting suspiciously, Sanders told relatives that he believed Knighten was trying to summon the sasquatches so they could feast on Sanders, and he killed Knighten in self-defense. Witnesses said Sanders is a regular user of methamphetamine, which ramps up his Bigfoot rhetoric. His defense was that having used meth three or four days before the murder, he was in a drug-induced psychosis. He’ll be sentenced in June.

Animals Going Rogue

n Butte, Montana, residents—no strangers to big animals—got a surprise on the morning of April 16 when they spotted an elephant strolling down Harrison Avenue, NBC Montana reported. “Pretty exciting,” said Josh Hannifin, co-manager of the Civic Center Town Pump. “Man, they move fast when they just walk.” The Jordan World Circus was in town, and surveillance cameras caught Viola escaping from her pen after being startled by a car backfiring during her bath time. Handlers were able to catch Viola with no trouble after about 20 minutes.

n Suburban residents in Cape Town, South Africa, had a close encounter with a hippopotamus in the wee hours of April 14, Independent Online reported. The hippo broke through a fence at the Rondevlei Nature Reserve after getting into a scuffle with a dominant male there. Resident Ashraff Schwartz said that when police cornered the animal, it ran into his yard. “My 74-year-old mom watched ... as the hippo came straight for our door. It then turned around and ran up the road, but before then, it broke my wall as it jumped over it.” While no one was hurt in the incident, hippos “are responsible for more human fatalities in Africa than any other large animal,” the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Wildlife Department noted.

Suspicions Confirmed

NASA revealed on April 17 that the object that crashed through the roof of a home in Naples, Florida, was indeed space trash—specifically, garbage jettisoned from the International Space Station in March 2021. United Press International reported that on March 8, a 1.6-pound, 4-inch-long cylindrical object came through Alejandro Otero’s roof. NASA said the object was what remained of a 5,800-pound pallet of depleted nickel hydride batteries. “The hardware was expected to fully burn up during entry into the Earth’s atmosphere,” NASA said. “However, a piece of hardware survived reentry.”

It’s a Mystery

n A 19th-century fortress in Antwerp, Belgium, undergoing archaeological excavation turned up a mysterious finding: a British train car from around 1930. United Press International reported on April 16 that the wooden London North Eastern Railway car was originally used for “removals”—moving property from one residence to another. “It’s a mystery as to how the carriage came to be in Antwerp,” said consultant archaeologist Femke Martens. “Unfortunately there’s very little left of the relic as it disintegrated while being excavated.”

n Jessica Daley, a toll worker along the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey, called in sick to work on April 12 because she had “a gut feeling that something was going to happen. Like something terrible was going to happen,” she said. She felt the premonition was about a car accident, NBC New York reported. Sure enough, about four hours later, a garbage collector’s truck slammed into a tollbooth—the one Daley is usually in,

she said. The toll collector and truck driver both suffered serious injuries. “I dropped to my knees and just started crying,” she said. “I was praying for everybody involved.” She was back at work the next day.

Crime Report

On April 9, investigators caught their targets in a puzzling money-making scheme in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. NBC New York reported that Detective Nick Mercoun and his partner arrested 77-year-old Alfredo Rodriguez and 54-year-old Hector Cortes, whom they dubbed the Shopping Cart Bandits. The two had stolen at least 140 carts from the ShopRite grocery, which Mercoun believes they were selling for about $200 wholesale. “It was about $28,000 worth of shopping carts,” he said. The Food Marketing Institute estimates that 2 million shopping carts are stolen each year. Who knew? Rodriguez and Cortes are rolling along at the Bergen County Jail.

Haute Couture

It wasn’t an April Fools’ joke: Independent Online reported on April 1 that fashion house Balenciaga has introduced a clear plastic bracelet that resembles a roll of packing tape, to the tune of about $3,000. The “Gaffer Bangle” includes an inside label that reads “Balenciaga Adhesive—Made in France.” The company reportedly unveiled the bracelet at Paris Fashion Week, and reviews are sticky: One Reddit commenter noted, “When will people learn Balenciaga’s schtick is to generally make a fool of its consumers?” Another said, “Rich people want to feel poor so bad.”

Parenting Goals

Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, was arrested on a felony child abandonment count in Houston after leaving her 8- and 6-year-old children home alone while she went on a cruise, The Smoking Gun reported. Neighbors saw her leaving her luxury apartment on April 4 with “luggage and bags” and didn’t see her return. When police were summoned on April 9, they found the two children in the apartment, which was “in complete disarray and had trash and leftover food all over the unit.” The kids said their mom was on a cruise, and they didn’t know when she would be back. Officers found a webcam that Williams was using to “watch and talk to the children.” When she appeared in court on April 12, the judge noted that witnesses had said it was “not the first time something like this has occurred.” The kids are with their aunt while Williams is held in jail.

Mistaken Identity

A man with the Facebook name Grampian Stormtrooper was on his way to a DeeCon on April 6 at the University of Dundee in Scotland when the train he was riding suddenly stopped shortly after leaving Aberdeen station, Fox News reported. A guard approached Grampian, who was in full stormtrooper gear, and asked about his blaster. “Apparently someone reported it to the police,” Grampian posted on Facebook. “Met by two firearms officers.” Grampian was removed from the train, asked to return home and get a bag for the blaster and instructed not to wear his stormtrooper armor on the train. “Crazy world we live in,” he noted.

Irony

Things got a little heated—so to speak—at the Good Will Fire Co. Station 69A in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on April 18, WFMZ-TV reported. The cabin of a fire engine parked inside of the station caught fire. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly, but smoke damaged two ambulances, a fire rehab unit and the truck bays. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Pottstown fire officials are investigating the cause of the blaze.