City Weekly August 1, 2024

By Josi Hinds

ROADAGAIN

S AP

BOX

Trump’s Gaza

July 2024 will go down in history as the month Donald Trump announced a total blockade of any future participation in government by the American people. He has said if he wins there will be no need for coming out to vote again after November 2024. Everything will be already fixed and under control.

On the other hand, if he loses the 2024 election voting will not be possible, since civil conflict will likely break out to try to rectify that enormous injustice. I get it. Do you? America has become Trump’s

Gaza—encircled, blockaded, under siege from all directions by a politician who will broach no more political defeats or even contests for the duration of his existence on planet Earth.

One interesting aspect of this new reality for America is that children and grandchildren will no longer need to pay attention to social studies, history or law while in school. The education needed to teach people how to govern themselves will be as useless to America as an election.

KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY Woods Cross

Private Eye, July 24 Online

I could never tell my now 6-year-old daughter in the future that I supported or voted for Trump. He’s a convicted felon. He’s sexually abused women. He’s a narcissistic pathological liar. He’s a lifelong conman who did nothing as president. Did he build a wall? Nope. Did Mexico pay for that nonexistent wall? Nope. Did he “drain the swamp”? Nope.

I do not understand how anyone can

justify supporting Trump or voting for him. Come on, Republicans, you can so easily do better! What is with the attraction to that guy?

ABRAMOVITZ1 Via Instagram

The only thing [Utah Gov. Spencer] Cox did right is support President Trump. All of Cox’s other policies—from gender transitions, to illegals, to even his egg policy— are poisonous to any thinking, responsible, taxpaying legal resident of Utah.

MARIAFERLAND Via Instagram

Cox is a flip-flopper. I think deep down he doesn’t want to be a tool, but sadly his party has become the party of hateful crazies.

VALERIEANNSEA Via Instagram

He grabbed Cox by the pussy. BHOMER79 Via Instagram

Who cares? We need Trump as our next

president. We’re cooked as a country with anyone else, unless you’re currently well off in the money department.

CATDOG243 Via Instagram

Trump 2024. Maybe [the boutique store] iconoCLAD can stock up and sell tissues for all your tears come November. DRAKE.CUSTOM.COATINGS Via Instagram

Gov. Cox come on, have a spine. Trump is unfit for office. He definitely does not follow the Christian values that you stand for.

BENJAMIN.PELLEGRINO Via Instagram

Y’all are such whiny little snowflakes it’s hilarious! Orange man bad! Raaaawwwwrrrrr grow up.

DEAD_HEADFORD Via Instagram

Write to comments@cityweekly.net or post your thoughts on our social media.

THE WATER COOLER

What summer Olympic event could you medal in? What event do you think should be added ?

Katharine Biele

Oh now that’s funny. Sitting in the stands? I’ve always thought I could rock curling. Added? Don’t they have enough?

Carolyn Campbell

There needs to be an Olympic challenge to see who can stay on hold the longest with Comcast.

Pete Saltas

If they made tavli (Backgammon) an Olympic sport, I’d crush it with my coffee in hand.

Scott Renshaw

I would definitely be a serious medal contender in “spending approximately 15 minutes watching an event I see only once every four years and suddenly thinking I could be an expert commentator on its nuances.”

Benjamin Wood

I’d like to imagine I could at least finish the Men’s Mountain Bike course within a reasonable amount of time ... or at least that I could have 10 years ago.

Bryan Bale

I’m pretty good at sleeping in, but I’m not sure I could do it at a competitive level.

PRIVATE EYE

BY JOHN SALTAS

Cox Unpopuli

In September I’ll join the annual City Weekly Trip to Greece in order to get my bearings straight, relax, hit a beach, have an ouzo if I want and to otherwise cavort pretty carefree, as anyone would do on their own vacation.

If you’re not aware of our trip, you should be. We go yearly (send me an email for info) and I’m only guessing here, but so far it’s approaching 200 different people who have joined the excursion.

Among our stops this year will be to the home of the Olympic games at Olympia, Greece. The games began in the year 776 B.C., which even a Bingham High School graduate like me can figure out was a very long time ago.

I recently wrote about how outside the entry to the ancient Olympic stadium, athletes were paraded past a series of statues called the Zanes. The Zanes did not pay tribute to the winners of an event, but rather were carved to immortalize the cheaters, so that one might never be inspired to cheat lest their name, family and hometown would be forever shamed.

I like that idea. That column proposed Utah build a giant statue of Mike Lee for such a purpose, to remind all human beings and those to come that the attributes of folks like Lee should never be emulated.

It’s too bad, then, that the Zane statue of Mike Lee was not created in time to save Gov. Spencer Cox from traveling down the same craphole as has Lee. All of Utah now understands that Cox has jumped feet first into the partybefore-people element of his once proud Republican Party. It’s the Trump party now, where no Goldwaters, Reagans, Romneys nor Bushes need apply.

Trump’s icky magnetism must be awfully contagious and strong for men such as Cox to jump aboard, casting their ethics and morality aside in order to better covet the ring of power. But Cox is just another iron shaving.

That’s nothing new, really. Indeed, the Ancient Greek philosophers wrote of men who were the same type as Cox. So did Shakespeare. As well, philosophy, drama and other such crafts were at one time equal to physical competitions, with playwrights and poets competing for championship olive-wreath laurels no less than did javelin throwers.

You might say then, that there was a time when being smart, clever, literate and worldly were prized values. You might also say that is no longer the case today—case in point, the frickin’ stupid kerfuffle regarding the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games this past week.

Center to that was our own Governor Cox who—speaking for all Christians, apparently—woefully said a particular portrayed segment of that ceremony was “a blatant mockery of a sacred event that my faith cherishes.” Really? Do you really want to go there, Spencer?

Ok, well he did, so I contacted a Greek Orthodox monk I know who lives at St. Catherine’s Monastery in Mount Sinai, Egypt, to ask what he thought of it all.

Stop for one second here: Spencer, do you know anything about St. Catherine’s Monastery, the oldest Christian Monastery in the world? Do you know the relevance of it to the 230 million Orthodox Christians worldwide? If not, sit down and put your sore thumb away.

The original Olympic games were composed of pagans who worshiped pagan deities, among them the god Dionysus and others who celebrated a life of bacchanalia. That was what the French organizers were paying tribute to—the origins of the games themselves.

But Spencer, in his newborn ill-wisdom to post stupid things without being fully informed, likened the scene— as did others—to the painting of The Last Supper by the Italian Leonardo da Vinci. The monk pointed out that the Orthodox Christian interpretations of that scene were

theological in nature, and have been since the origins of Christian belief, carried forth during Byzantine times, primarily via icons such as Mustikos Deipnos (Mystical Supper). Byzantine iconography began around 300 A.D. and visually told the Bible stories to followers who could not read. In that way, icons were biblical.

By da Vinci’s time, his own artistic impression was questioned, and has often been, no less so than was the display in Paris. Da Vinci was an artist, not a theologian, and his work was, therefore, interpretive. A great work of art it is—it’s massive, but that’s what it is, an art piece. If Spencer wants to hang his holy cowboy hat there, so be it. Eastern Orthodox homes often hang Mystical Supper icons. It represents what was beheld in the Bible, the most pointed being that it was to represent the mysticism of what had recently transpired (including the end of animal sacrifice among the Jewish people and Christ’s fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy), not who passed the toast and jam, which I believe is the depth of knowledge Cox possesses about the Last Supper painting. He just wanted to squawk to his newfound friends comprising the red meat base. That’s common in Utah, to bleat of something religiously from a spire of superiority but from which one usually just gets stuck upon.

But I will give Cox his due. I’m sure that he’s far more religious than I am. Therefore, he may also know the parables of doves and olive branches. So, come on over to dinner at my home some time, Spencer. You can sit at our kitchen table and look out at my coteries of Mourning and European Collard Doves who feast outside. And above your head you will see the Mustikos Deipnos that has been in our kitchen for years.

We can unify around it if you want to know something other than how to drive clickbait. And come October, watch your mail. I’ll send you an icon from Greece regardless. Sorry, I make no apologies it’s not a work by Utah-born artist Jon McNaughton, who actually does betray faith with his art. CW

Send comments to john@cityweekly.net

Wide variety of job opportunities from Logan to Springville Good pay: every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Salt Lake City 801.313.1234 Ogden 801.399.1234 apply @alltradestemp.com

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY BRYANT HEATH

MISS: Doth Protest

Welcome to the 2024 Paris Olympics and a new round of misinformation and righteous indignation. And Utah “Christians’’ and pundits are eating it up. The latest controversy is about a seeming parody of The Last Supper. “The parody of the biblical scene, performed against the backdrop of the River Seine, was intended to interpret Dionysus and raise awareness ‘of the absurdity of violence between human beings,’” The Guardian reported, quoting organizers whose apology was anything but full-throated. “If people have taken any offense we are really sorry.” Nonetheless, Gov. Spencer Cox thanked them on social media with prayerful hand emojis. And Sen. Mike Lee had none of it: “The opening ceremonies at the Olympics were about Dionysus in roughly the same way that a pineapple is about pizza.” KUTV reported on the outrage, too. But really? It’s France, where blasphemy is legal. And this is not the first Last Supper to be parodied. LDS folks might remember a 2003 parody on Battlestar Gallactica—that Mormons in Space TV series.

MISS: Bait and Switch

If Utahns were hopeful that Gov. Cox saw the error of his ways, think again. We waited a week or so after Cox opined that he had reconsidered and would vote for Donald Trump because the former guy was going to change his ways after an attempted assassination. Cox, of course, prayed about it. “Your life was spared,” he wrote Trump. “Now, because of that miracle, you have the opportunity to do something that no other person on earth can do right now: unify and save our country.” So much for miracles. Trump has since called Kamala Harris a bum and a lunatic and said Democrats are cheating. That’s the least of it. When Cox posted this on X, we were hopeful: “An easy mistake (and one I have made).” Alas, it wasn’t about his endorsement of Trump. The governor might want to look up the meaning of unity or even how to “Disagree Better.”

HIT: Power to the People

The good news we heard a while ago— that citizens have a constitutional right to change their government by ballot initiative—appears to have sparked actions from various citizen groups unhappy with the supermajority Legislature. On July 26, Fox 13 reported on People 4 Utah’s push for open primaries. “In Utah, if you’re an independent voter, you are excluded from a decision in 81% of legislative races,” People 4 Utah’s Barbara Stallone told Fox 13. Primaries are party functions and the last time they were changed was the 2014 Count My Vote effort, which let candidates collect signatures to get on the ballot. Initiatives are not easy to pass, requiring petitions from 26 of the 29 state Senate districts and then passing in an election. And they will likely get harder. Still, others are brewing: a carbon tax initiative, a reproductive rights initiative, etc. Clean the Darn Air’s Yoram Bauman is whipping up support for carbon tax with a rom-com called “Seize the Initiative.” CW

Creative License

To an outside observer, Utah has a strong reputation of being a dry monoculture. But when you peel back the “ah shucks” layers, you’ll find exceptional creativity abounds.

Baby names—the Maylees, the Lakynns and the Raidens of the world—are probably the most wellknown example, followed by the seemingly endless permutations of soda flavors. But where I find Utahns showcasing their most creative selves is through vanity license plates.

Maybe residents feel the need to spice up the lettering because the standard plates themselves are a little, well, underwhelming. The iconic “Ski Utah!” plate of the past has morphed into a busy mess while the “In God We Trust” is typical fodder for a particular audience but stylistically dull. Unquestionably, the “Life Elevated” option featuring Delicate Arch is the best of the bunch, but I find myself thinking that the Red Rock iconography is starting to get a little played out.

A quick trip down I-15 shows that it’s obvious Utahns crave other options to these drab defaults, and there are a couple of ways to do it. The DMV offers 70 special group plates, which highlight organizations and causes across the spectrum, while vanity lettering is only constrained by your imagination and the letter count (7).

But real creatives choose to do both and their medium of choice has been the recently legalized black-andwhite license plates, which have been seizing market share at a breakneck pace that would make any Silicon Valley VC salivate.

Yes, there are some duds in the Black & White bunch (MCCOOL, HOTTIE, JOYRYD) but as a whole I find myself chuckling at the cleverness of how people showcase their personality in such a small space. Personal favorites that I’ve seen include the uber-fans (JEDIGRL, PKEMNGO), the jokesters (UPDAWG, LUCIFER), and the truly randoms (ON1GIRI, FATMIKE, A D H D).

As for me, I opted for a different route, purchasing the newly issued Great Salt Lake plate that was spearheaded by Democratic Sen. Jen Plumb, which recently passed the required 500 sign-ups to be printed. Unfortunately, my lettering of choice was already taken. Like these vanity plates, “WHALE” also seems to be exceptionally popular at this time, too. CW

A&E

Interpretation

A call for sanity when it comes to approaching creative work in good faith

BY BRYAN YOUNG comments@cityweekly.net

There has been a cultural downgrade to our collective IQ when it comes to media literacy—and I think there are a lot of reasons for it.

It’s never more apparent than when a new nerd movie or show comes out, and suddenly you’ve got people shouting about “plot holes” and “ret-cons”, not really knowing what either of those things are. These folks take a combative stance against any media, confusing “critical thinking” with a requirement to just be critical.

Instead of engaging with the intent of a piece, they seek out perceived inconsistencies and sour further and further against a piece of art, not waiting for answers to be provided. Even worse, the worst of these folks don’t even watch the shows; instead they watch YouTube videos where online fan “critics” catalog these “issues” with the narrative for regurgitation. (Curiously, there’s never a correction when a later installment clears up what was originally thought to be a hole.)

This seems to happen the most with regard to legacy series. Star Trek shows have been suffering from this lately; Marvel and DC movies get their share of it. But I haven’t recently seen a level of poor media literacy and disingenuous readings of something to compare with Star Wars: The Acolyte. The internet hasn’t been that lousy with bad takes about a work since The Last Jedi.

Created by Leslye Headland (of Russian Doll fame), The Acolyte is set almost 100 years prior to The Phantom Menace, and shows the beginning of the decay that rots the Jedi as they head to their eventual destruction in Revenge of the Sith. The show revolves around a mystery where Jedi are being targeted and killed by an unknown Forcewielder, and the third episode of the show brought us back 16 years further to show the origins of this revenge plot. Unfortunately, this episode caused some folks to lose their minds. Film Threat declared this “the death of Star Wars” and even held a poorly-attended online funeral for the franchise, declaring its death as the day George Lu-

Big Shiny Robot

appointed Kathleen Kennedy his successor. The Acolyte launched dozens of YouTube videos from accounts with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, documenting everything they couldn’t make sense of. It didn’t matter that this episode was the third of eight, and very clearly raising more questions than it answered. Instead of patience, they tried burning the place down.

It seems as though many people don’t allow themselves to be engaged by a narrative. They want to have their hands held and have everything spoon-fed to them. Everything has to make sense the second it appears on screen, or else it’s a plot hole. But a plot hole is when a car is destroyed in Scene 5 and arrives back in Scene 12 with no explanation or opportunity for repair, not your inability to understand a character’s actions before a story’s end. Unfortunately, their method is the worst possible way to approach storytelling—especially if that storytelling is intended to be a mystery whose layers need to be peeled back. In my opinion, both The Last Jedi and The Acolyte take George Lucas-like inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece Rashomon, which shows stories from different viewpoints and allows the audience to make up their mind about what the truth is. Unfortunately, fans of franchise material can sometimes get too caught up on what is “TRUE” in all-caps. They want to make sure the information they’re getting is fit for a wiki. Shades of gray and differing perspectives are a little harder to reconcile, and it makes them anxious.

Sadly, this is nothing new. Fans have been doing this since The Empire Strikes Back “ruined” Obi-Wan Kenobi by having Vader make a liar out of him. It didn’t matter that Return of the Jedi offered Luke (and us) his reasoning for it.

My advice is to stop treating consumption of art as a competitive sport. You don’t have to score points against a movie or show. If it makes you feel something, great; if it doesn’t, that’s also fine. The issue is when you try to attack a piece without actually trying to understand it, or meet it on the terms of the author’s intent. It’s like going into a period piece set in the 18th century, and complaining about the lack of cell phones.

Stop watching YouTube videos of people tearing down media. Seek out criticism that helps you understand it better, and helps you empathize the characters and stories on the screen. Roger Ebert was the best at this. City Weekly’s Scott Renshaw is pretty good at it, too. Good critics help contextualize art and add meaning to it, not tear it down.

Do better.

Pay attention.

Have patience, and don’t expect every answer immediately.

It’s good advice for watching shows—but maybe better advice for life.

And after all, isn’t that what art is for: to help us all live better lives? CW

cas

The Acolyte

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT

Demetri Martin

Maybe it’s the Prince Valiant haircut, or his sartorial style consisting of jeans and T-shirts, but just by looking at Demetri Martin, you might not think that he’s been working at this comedy business for more than 25 years. The cerebral sensibility that he’s brought to his entertainment career—in stand-up performances, his early TV appearances on The Daily Show and his short-lived Comedy Central series Important Things with Demetri Martin—might hint at his background as a Yale graduate who attended Harvard Law School, yet there’s never been anything inaccessible about his comedic sensibility. This is, after all, a guy who has made it a central part of his performances to present oddball cartoons on a large pad of paper.

That sensibility is on full display in his most recent recorded special, 2024’s Netflix offering Demetri Deconstructed, in which he continues his love of wordplay. “If you want to escalate a threat, you turn it into a promise. ‘Is that a threat?’ ‘No, that’s a promise.’ ‘Whoah, shit, I better watch out, this guy’s reliable.’ … But it doesn’t work the other way. You can’t downgrade a promise by turning it into a threat: ‘I’m gonna take out the trash.’ ‘Is that a promise?’ ‘No … that’s a threat, sweetie. You better watch your ass, I might clean the kitchen, too.’”

Demetri Martin’s “The Joke Machine” tour visits the Sandy Amphitheatre (1245 E. 9400 South, Sandy) on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 - $59.50; VIP meet & greet is also available. Visit sandyamp.com for tickets and additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

Salt Lake Open Tabletop Gaming Tournament

For a third year, tabletop gaming enthusiasts will be gathering for a weekend of tournaments and demonstrations at the Salt Lake Open. But as the event has grown, the founders have seen the benefits of combining the wargaming and fantasy gaming sides of the event into a single venue at the Utah State Fairpark.

“We just felt the Grand Building at the fairgrounds was perfect, some of the legacy of it as far as housing U.S. Army Air Force pilots in World War II,” says Salt Lake Open co-founder and COO Shawn Bagley. “The historian in me felt kind of drawn to it.”

Over the course of three days, players will participate in a wide array of tabletop games— distinct from board games and card games in their use of elaborate terrain components, painted miniatures and tactical gameplay. Many of the competitions for games like Flames of War, Warhammer, Bolt Action and more serve as sanctioned tournaments, with winners receiving cash prizes and, in some cases, invitations to regional and world championships.

“These are all grand tournaments that qualify players … as one of the stepping stones to other competitions,” Bagley says. Yet it’s also a great spectator event, both for a chance to learn how the games are played, and “just for a chance to see $40,000 - $50,000 worth of terrain,” Bagley adds—and admission is free for non-competitors.

The 2024 Salt Lake Open comes to the Utah State Fairpark Grand Building (155 N. 1000 West) on Aug. 2 – 4, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. Visit utahwargaming.com for registration and additional event information. (SR)

Park City Kimball Arts Festival

Each summer, Summit County and the Kimball Arts Center prepare for one of the top-ranked art festivals in the country. The Park City Kimball Arts Festival showcases the work of more than 200 jury-selected artists from all over the world. Diversity is a vital facet of the festival, featuring 12 mediums: ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and wood.

Now in its 55th year, the three-day, open-air celebration is one of Park City’s signature events. The impressive and lively event is located on Main Street in Old Town. This year features a lineup of experiences including: Studio On Main, with two locations offering interactive art education activities inspired by the Kimball Art Center; Creation Station, focusing on youth-based projects and activities that tie into the current Kimball Art Center exhibition; Student Murals, showcasing the creativity and talent of young artists from the Park City Summer School Enrichment Program and the National Ability Center; and Young Artist Academy (YAA), featuring works by teenagers dedicated to the study and practice of the visual arts and creative thinking. There’s also festival merchandise, highlighting designs by former YAA student, Park City native and current art student Sadie Abuhaidar, and plenty of music, food and drink.

The festival begins Friday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., continues all day Saturday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and concludes Sunday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, daily and full festival ticket pricing and a festival map, visit kimballartsfestival.org/ festival-details. (Brandi Christofferson)

The Salt Palace and Delta Center could see significant change under a subsidized redevelopment proposal being negotiated between Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County and the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG).

TALK OF THE TOWN

DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS SHARE THEIR HOPES AND FEARS FOR A PROPOSED SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

BY JOSI HINDS COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

“Salt Lake City is our urban core—it’s our capital city and it belongs to all of Utah,” Utah Senator Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, said on the 42nd day of the 2024 Utah legislative session. “History teaches us that when we fail to invest in our urban centers, the regional economy suffers.”

McCay’s comments were in favor of SB272, which he had brought to the Senate floor for debate. The bill is titled Capital City Revitalization Zone but is better known by what it appears likely to create—a new sports and entertainment district in west downtown, bookended by the Delta Center and a revamped Salt Palace Convention Center.

And since the legislative session ended, Salt Lake City has worked with the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG)—a Utah-based investment group that owns the Utah Jazz and a newly acquired NHL franchise—to realize this new district.

The proposal has proven divisive, with some downtown stakeholders optimistic about the effect such a project could have on city vibrancy and tourism while others object to the public subsidies that would fund its construction and worry about the short-term impact of construction on small businesses.

“What has been proposed by elected

leaders and initiated with Smith Entertainment Group is very specific to the entertainment district that they have proposed for sports, arts and culture,” said Dee Brewer, executive director of the Downtown Alliance.

SEG pitched the construction of a new sports, entertainment, culture and convention district to the Salt Lake City Council on April 4 and, over the course of several months, the city and SEG have been negotiating a participation agreement that would allow SEG to redevelop three downtown blocks between 400 West and West Temple.

The City Council unanimously endorsed the agreement during their meeting on July 9, but additional legal and political hurdles remain before the project can formally advance.

Japantown and Taxes

“[SB272 is] a law passed this year by our state Legislature as a tool for the city to bring some funding to create an entertainment district in downtown, with the hope of keeping the Jazz and the hockey team in downtown Salt Lake City,”

City Councilmember Alejandro Puy explained. “But ultimately, it also allows the city to negotiate the terms of this agreement.”

According to the law, Salt Lake City has until Sept. 1 to draft an agreement with SEG and send it to a state Revitalization Zone Committee for approval.

The proposed revitalization district centers around the Delta Center, but also includes redeveloping two blocks east of it. These two blocks house the Salt Palace Convention Center, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art and Abravanel Hall.

To fund this redevelopment, SB272 permits the city to adopt a 0.5% sales tax increase, which is anticipated to generate $1.2 billion over 30 years, the maximum

amount of time this tax can be active. The tax increase will not apply to motor vehicle sales, homes and other items.

“It is key to highlight this—that groceries are not included in the sales tax,” Puy said.

The participation agreement also includes several provisions to which SEG must adhere. This involves imposing a ticket fee for all events at the Delta Center, which will take effect July 1, 2025.

Revenue from this fee will be used to develop affordable housing and “other public benefit initiatives as determined by the City.”

Other public benefits outlined in the agreement include workforce development, which encompasses the establishment of internship and apprenticeship programs. SEG must also include free gathering spaces in their design and invest in public art for the district.

Of particular note in the agreement are the public benefits outlined for “the recognition, revitalization, and/or redevelopment of the Japantown community.”

from page 15

“[Japantown] was a thriving community with businesses and restaurants, retail, hotels,” reported former state senator Jani Iwamoto, a member of the Japanese Community Preservation Committee. “Then in the late 60s, with the erection of the Salt Palace, we saw the community destroyed.”

More than 90 Japanese-owned and -operated businesses were seized by eminent domain, Iwamoto explained, which allows a government to seize private property for public use. Governments must provide private property owners with compensation in order to enact this domain.

Japantown used to span several blocks. But in the aftermath of the Salt Palace’s construction, it shrunk to just one block of 100 South between 300 and 200 West. The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, the Japanese Church of Christ and a small Japanese garden are all that remain of the once expansive community.

“I think we’re cautiously optimistic that this revitalization will bring additional revenue, additional interest and support into the area to keep Japantown and revitalize Japantown as much as everything else,” said Rolen Yoshinaga, a board member with the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.

The participation agreement outlines several commitments SEG must make to Japantown. This includes incorporating Japanese architecture into construction, developing historical markers and adding more street-facing, activated spaces.

It also requires minimizing the amount of loading docks that would be located on the street, by which both of the churches are currently surrounded. At least $5 million is set to be spent specifically on Japantown.

However, both Iwamoto and Yoshinaga emphasized the need to keep the churches open through the redevelopment.

“The danger, the dark side of it, is that the two main property owners here that remain are the two churches and we cannot allow this revitalization to interfere with church operations,” Yoshinaga said. “We can’t have a street that doesn’t support that. That’s what we’re very nervous about.”

Iwamoto agreed. “If you can’t maintain those operations, what do you do?” she asked. “You know, do you close the doors and move to the city and just forget this whole thing? I mean, that’s what you’re faced with, is if we go, the street has nothing, right? There’s nothing. There’s nothing left here to hold it.”

A Dynamic Downtown

The project will begin with a renovation of the Delta Center. Mike Maughan, a representative for SEG, shared in a City Council work session on June 11 that SEG hopes to begin these renovations in the spring of 2025.

The participation agreement outlines that the entire revitalization district must be operational within 10 years.

In that same meeting, Maughan presented conceptual plans for what this revitalization zone could look like. They included demolishing the west wing of the Salt Palace and replacing it with an outdoor plaza. The plaza would have space for a hotel, a residential tower and several entertainment or business spaces.

These rendeings by the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) show how the existing Delta Center and Salt Palace Convention Center blocks could be reconfigured, burying 300 West underground and creating a pedestrian promenade between 200 West and a new east-facing entrance to the Delta Center.

New housing, retail and hotel developments would be added around the promenade, connected by plazas and mid-block pathways that seek to tie into existing and improved community destinations, like Japantown and the bars and restauarants along 200 South.

“The goal overall is to create a very family-friendly gathering space, many familyfriendly gathering spaces downtown where people can shop, eat, gather and come together,” Maughan shared. “That’s why there are plazas so central to each of the blocks.”

The plans also include rerouting 300 West underground, allowing for one plaza to join the Delta Center to the adjacent block without the disruption of vehicle traffic.

To facilitate this new district, the City Council is working on enacting zoning changes to the area. The changes they’re considering would permit any building to reach 75 feet in height, and could be allowed unlimited height above that if a building’s design is reviewed and approved. The Council will hold a public hearing on these changes during their meeting on Aug. 13.

A report from the D.A. Davidson financial planning group on the economic impacts of this district estimated that operations from the Utah Jazz, NHL team and arena would generate nearly $1 billion in annual revenue for the city.

It also estimated that construction would generate 1,500 temporary jobs and arena operations would create another 3,500.

Puy noted that events ocurring in and around the Delta Center have an outsize impact on city revenue.

“Our Downtown Alliance and our sales taxes report that the biggest days of sales taxes and attendance in our downtown are very much attached to activity in the Delta Center,” Puy explained. “Losing the economic piece of that is very damaging for the city.”

According to the Downtown Alliance’s 2023 Economic Benchmark report, Salt Lake City’s urban core is home to 140 retailers, 43 bars and 121 local restaurants. Brewer said they stand to benefit from increased economic activity in the heart of the city.

“Done right, [this district] will ripple out through the rest of downtown and through the rest of the community,” Brewer said.

According to the Downtown Alliance, three million tickets were sold to downtown arts and entertainment events in 2022. Sixteen million visits were paid to downtown Salt Lake that same year.

Salt Lake City’s economy made an impressive comeback in the aftermath of COVID-19. A 2022 economic report prepared by the state found that Salt Lake City added more than 72,000 jobs to the market, recovering the nearly 30,000 lost during the pandemic and then some. Salt Lake City also continued to see growth in population after the pandemic.

“Revitalizing downtown is a perpetual function, and that’s what we do all the time,” Brewer observed. “The very nature of downtowns is that they are dynamic. You see restaurants emerge and become a hot thing, and some of them go on to thrive for decades, and some of them flame out.”

Brewer emphasized downtown’s robust restaurant and bar scene. He attributed its success to a wide range of entertainment and events that are hosted downtown, from ballets to arts to conventions.

Some downtown businesses, like Uniquely Utah Souvenir Co, get almost all of their business from tourists.

“I get my business from the conventions, people traveling to Utah, just travelers,” Martin Norman, owner of Uniquely Utah, said. “Those two are my main primary sources of people that come into the shop.”

“When we fail to invest in our urban centers, the regional economy suffers.”

—Sen. Dan McCay, sponsor of SB272

Continued from page 17

“With the erection of the Salt Palace, we saw the [Japantown] community destroyed,” —former state Sen. Jani Iwamoto

Other business owners say that they are primarily supported by locals. Jason LeCates, managing partner with The Bourbon Group, estimated that 50% to 60% of his customers are Salt Lakers.

“I’m all for it,” LeCates said of revitalization. “We need to focus on downtown.”

But LeCates acknowledged the risks that large-scale construction poses to existing retailers. He opened Whiskey Street (323 S. Main St) 11 years ago. Back then, he recalled, Main Street was “boarded up and very depressed.”

“If you flashback 25 years ago, Main Street was pretty hot, pretty happening, and then in preparation for the Olympics, they put the train down Main Street,” LeCates explained. “It ended up being a huge project that shut the street down from 4th South all the way up to South Temple. Yeah, put everybody out of business.”

LeCates attributes Main Street’s recovery to its smaller size and business owners who were willing to invest in Main Street.

“I think people love Main Street,” he said. “It’s the only quaint street in Salt Lake City.”

Blank Walls and Empty Spaces

“Salt Lake City blocks are so big, and the streets are so wide, that they are not necessarily inviting to the pedestrian,” said Ana Valdemoros, a former city councilwoman and owner of Argentina’s Best Empanadas (357 S. 200 East).

Both Valdemoros and Puy discussed the benefits of a more walkable downtown

“We have grown into being a city that is very heavily reliant on cars,” Puy said. “You basically want to create a whole area where people are encouraged to leave the car because they can do their shopping, they can grab their coffee, they can just go window shop, and at the same time, have their kids spend some of their energy so they can go home and kill all those birds with one stone.”

Puy discussed the varying levels of economic activation that exist downtown.

“It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that if you walk a block east of the Delta Center, you’ve found yourself in a place that is full of walls, full of empty space, sometimes scary docking doors and nothing to do,” Puy observed.

By investing in walkable spaces, these pockets of empty, lifeless streets downtown might no longer exist because they would be easily accessible and connected to each other and the remaining parts of downtown.

Rheda Fouad, co-owner of The Ruin (159 S. Main St), pointed to issues he’s had with office space he bought on 100 South.

“It used to be, in my mind it was great,” Fouad recalled. “You know, the neighborhood there was safe, people maintained their properties. But something happened.”

After the pandemic, Fouad noticed an increase in crime in the area. He’s had to replace several windows and he says drug use seems to have increased in the area.

“I can’t really keep it maintained. I mean, we’ve been redoing plantings. We’ve had to fix our drip lines multiple times—they just get ripped up,” Fouad said. “We don’t know why or how people are wanting to do that. They don’t even want the area nice. So it’s been a frustrating run a little bit over there, but that’s kind of how we’re feeling about most of the stuff that’s happening in the city.”

“Groceries are not included in the sales tax [increase]”

—Salt Lake City Councilmember Alejandro Puy.

Fouad and his wife, Amy Leininger, first opened The Ruin in Sugar House. Two and a half years ago, they decided to move their business downtown to Main Street.

“We just felt there’s more energy downtown, but that has not panned out yet,” Fouad admitted. “We’re kind of on our own island up there. There’s not a consolidation of food and beverage, right? So, like you go down Main Street between Third and Fourth South, there’s a lot of energy there, but I know even some of their numbers are off.”

Fouad attributes some of the struggle he’s faced as a business owner to inflation eating into people’s disposable income. He also pointed to the population of unsheltered people living in downtown Salt Lake.

“The unsheltered element, I think, is keeping a lot of people away from downtown, just by stigma,” Fouad said. “We’ve dismantled a lot of our unsheltered population. It’s not because of housing costs, a lot of it’s just mental health, and we’re not investing in that aspect of it.”

Construction is also a challenge several downtown businesses face.

“It kills you,” LeCates related. “Go look at Bar X and Beer Bar, they’ve had construction right in front of their buildings. It’s awful, you know, because people can’t find a parking spot. Boom. They’ll find somewhere you can find a parking spot.”

Some businesses are also still trying to recoup from the lost business of decreased office workers downtown. “I’ve talked to so many people about the unpredictability of lunches. You know, there’s still only [60%] of office employees back, and it’s just kind of a different, changing market,” Fouad said. “Some of these things the city, you know, the city can’t force workers back into office buildings.”

Previous city investments downtown, like the Gallivan Center or Eccles Broadway Theater, have helped surrounding local businesses, in LeCates’ experience.

“Hands down the biggest positive impact has been the theater,” LeCates asserted. “Like we have Hamilton there all next month, which we only get, like, one of those a year. But we’ll have 30 days where all of downtown is going to be kicking ass.”

But for Fouad, whose business is only about two blocks north of Whiskey Street, and almost directly next to the Eccles Theater, these investments haven’t helped.

“So many people who come into the city to go see a show, they park on Regent Street,” Fouad said. “They go through the back door. They don’t even really touch Main Street.”

Fouad is also a part owner of the Central 9th Market (161 W. 900 South), a location at which he has seen much more success.

“It’s mixing different demographics, and it has an early dinner side, and it’s got a lighter night crowd,” he explained. “All the businesses down there do a really good job of building our community.”

LeCates suggested the city should next focus on the Granary District and on West Temple, where a street improvement project is currently underway.

He said it’s not enough to decide a new development—like the sports, entertainment, culture and convention district—is going to be the next cool spot without any real backing. That’s something that happens on its own.

“There’s ups and downs in this circle of life,” LeCates observed. “As a business owner, you’ve got to realize that the city might say they care—they don’t care. If you go out of business, someone else can take a shot.” CW

DINE

Seven Burgers for Seven Brothers

A classic Utah cheeseburger gets a Hawaiian glow-up at Seven Brothers Burgers.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Utah has been fortunate to net more than a few Hawaiian-born restaurants over the years. I’d even go as far as saying that Hawaiian cuisine has a solid sub-genre of its own along the Wasatch Front. Among the more recent arrivals to our local food scene is the burger joint known as Seven Brothers Burgers, which has exploded with seven locations sprinkled throughout the northern and southern parts of the valley. I recently checked out the Farmington location, and if their other spots are even half as busy as this one was, those seven brothers may just have a local hit on their hands.

The moniker of Seven Brothers comes from the familial origins of the franchise, which was born when Art and Peggy Hanneman opened their first restaurant in Kahuku, Oahu. Named after the seven sons that carry the Hanneman name, Seven Brothers is all about serving up gigantic burgers inspired by the coastal flavors of Hawaii. My interest was piqued when I saw Instagram pics of the small onion ring tower drizzled with barbecue sauce that comes on their signature Shez’s Paniolo ($11) burger, so that’s where I dug in.

For starters, the cheeseburger with barbecue sauce and onion rings is a Utah

original that saw a messy trademark battle when Carl’s Jr. co-opted the idea and then copyrighted the name Western Bacon Cheeseburger. You can find variations of this burger most everywhere–legend has it that Apollo Burger’s Texas Bacon Cheeseburger is the original–but the fact that Seven Brothers has a Hawaiian riff on this legendary local burger makes it a particularly interesting addition to our food scene.

Shez’s Paniolo is named for one of the seven Hanneman brothers–most of their burgers follow this pattern–and it hits all the notes of the classic recipe. I’d argue that their quality of execution is in a league of its own. The onion rings are culled from the thickest part of the onion and then deep fried to a bread-crumb coated perfection. When the burger comes to your table, the two enormous onion rings hold the top bun up like a cowboy hat on a pencil, so a bit of creative ingenuity is required to eat this sucker.

I’m not saying my way is the best way, but I pulled off the larger of the two onion rings and ate it separately while smushing the top bun down on the smaller one. I could see smashing both onion rings down in retrospect, but I thought it still nailed that salty, crunchy onion ring experience with just one. In addition to barbecue sauce, the Paniolo gets a liberal dose of house sauce–a creamy affair akin to a smoky fry sauce. With plenty of sauce and a thick slice of juicy grilled pineapple, the dryness of the onion rings is appropriately balanced.

About halfway through the burger, I realized that this burger is a near-perfect encapsulation of the beachy vibes of Hawaii and Utah’s rustic resourcefulness. It’s a summer burger of epic proportions, and it’s perfect for diners who like to get their hands and fingers sticky with a deluge of saucy goodness. My one gripe about the burger would be that the patty

and bacon get a little lost in the waves of pineapple, barbecue and onion rings, but nothing to torpedo this monster.

On the side dish front, there are a few standouts that could very much be meals unto themselves. The Paniolo Fry ($8), for example, takes the Seven Brothers signature home fries–they’re more like thicker fried potato chips and they’re awesome–and gives them the Paniolo treatment. Like the Paniolo burger, they get cheese, barbecue sauce, grilled pineapple, chopped bacon and caramelized onions topped with two giant onion rings. I’d say it’s a little redundant to get these fries along with a Paniolo burger, but it’s also a pretty sizable portion of deliciously fried food.

I was pleasantly surprised by the banana bread sundae ($12) as desserts are usually a throwaway at fast casual burger spots unless we’re talking milkshakes. This luscious bad boy, however, is an absolute banger. It starts with a mini loaf of banana bread–complete with melty chocolate chips–and serves it with some vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and toasted coconut. The banana bread is also served solo, but you just can’t beat how warm banana bread gets the ice cream nice and melty–this should definitely be ordered if your belly capacity permits.

Seven Brothers Burgers is definitely a welcome sight in Utah’s food scene for fast-casual fans that are looking for a bit more quality in their menu. I also appreciate this new chapter in the Western Bacon Cheese burger history–it’s fun to know that this classic of Utah culinary history can still get a glow-up from time to time. CW

Shez’s Paniolo burger

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Elderberry Blonde

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Limited Pride release, “Gei Effect”: a mango and pineapple Gose, 5%

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Cerveza De Mayo for Bewilder.

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

On Tap: California Steam Lager, Hans Gruber Export 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: Pie Hole; Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: “Proper Yasuke” dark rice lager 5%, Mamachari Strawberry Serrano kombucha (NA)

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  Ay Curuba! Curuba Sour

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

On Tap: Blueberry Cream Ale

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: All-American Cider, Pineapple-Passion Fruit Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

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

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

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

On Tap: Pico Rico

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Peach Cobbler Ale; Blackberry Sour and Guava Sour Slushies

Level Crossing Brewing Co.

2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Sun Slope Sour Live Music every Sunday, 5 to 8pm

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST

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

On Tap: Philly Sour Fruit Bat Live Music every Saturday, 3 to 6pm

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

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

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Watermelon Juniper Cider and Slushies!

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

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

On Tap: Monte Crispo (Collab with Melvin Brewing); West Coast Pilsner

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: Cold IPA dry hopped w/ Mosaic, Amarillo, and Chinook

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

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

On Tap: Mango Milkshake IPA

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

Proper Brewing: Limited Pride release, “Gei Effect”: a mango and pineapple Gose, 5%

Proper Burger: “Whispers from Santa Maria” Helles lager with peach and jalapeno

Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com  On Tap: “Bermuda Blonde” keylime blonde ale 5%

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: Brewers Select: Red Snake Harvest Ale

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Pineapple Sour Seltzer

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com On Tap: Chipotle Lager

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 Poached Pear Cider 5.8% ABV

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

On Tap: Pineapple Mango 6.5%

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer On Tap: Slushies; Harvey Wallbanger Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Salud Mexican Lager; Spring Fever Grapefruit Radler

Silver Reef

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

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co.

147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ squatters On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Hop Head Red

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery

1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Dog Days Jalapeno Golden Ale

Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi

3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: The Baroness (Munich Helles); Lower Rider (Non-Alcoholic)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

BEER NERD

The Pies Have It

Ales that mimic and pair with berry pies

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Epic - Blueberry Pie Cream Ale: This special beer was brewed specifically for Pie and Beer Day (July 24): it’s even prominently displayed on the 16-ounce can’s label. This beer doesn’t necessarily mimic a pie, but rather is designed to pair with one.

It poured a relatively clear ruby/purple color when held to the light, with a little over two fingers worth of creamy white head. The scent starts off with a big burst of blueberry being the first to show up, and it imparts a pleasant natural blueberry aroma that goes right into a noticeable creamy note. This beer has a good aroma—the blueberries are showcased nicely.

The taste seems to be similar to the aroma, but a little lighter. It starts off with a medium amount of sweetness, with the blueberry being the first to show up, and this time it imparts something akin to a fermented blueberry flavor that doesn’t seem to be as fresh as it was in the scent. Up next comes the aforementioned creaminess I noticed from the smell, but it’s also a little lighter this time. Towards the end comes the malts, which show up just as much as they did in the aroma, imparting the same aspects.

On the finish, there’s pretty much no bitterness, with just a little sweetness taking its place; a malty aftertaste includes some creamy and blueberry-like flavors. Smooth, not too creamy, pretty crisp, a little prickly, medium-bodied with a higher amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is nice, but I wish it was creamier with less carbonation.

Verdict: What I like the most about this beer is the aroma and appearance; those are easily the highlights. Less enjoyable with this beer is the blend of blueberry puree and blueberry flavoring. All in all, it’s a solid 7.0 percent fruit ale that was designed for Pie and Beer Day.

Shades - Boysenberry Pie: Like the previous beer, this one is meant to pair with a pie, an ale designed to mimic the flavors of a boysenberry pie. It’s something that Shades does well, and this version is no exception.

The gorgeous, nearly opaque, oxblood-colored body was topped by a small, tightly-beaded cap of fuchsia bubbles that quickly dissolved—no head retention or lacing whatsoever. The nose was outstanding: Berry notes dominated, with loads of ripe, freshly puréed boysenberry, plus a big blackberry and raspberry presence, too. Sweet and fragrant, with hints of tartness and acidity.

The flavor profile was solid, but definitely berry-forward, just like the nose. Crisp and lemony on the front end, it proved moderately tart and acidic. The berry notes appeared mid-palate, with boysenberry for sure in addition to some blackberries. Graham cracker on the back end creates a pie crust-like finish.

A noticeable Kveik yeast sourness came through as well, with a hint of lingering acidity. Crisp, refreshing and very nicely balanced, it’s pretty typical of 6.3 percent ABV mouthfeel. Medium-bodied for the style, the liquid contained a moderate, bubbly effervescence.

Verdict: This is an interesting pie beer that definitely delivers what Shades is selling. The graham cracker flavor always puts these pie beers over the top. I always look forward to seeing what other variations the Kviek sours bring. These should both be in the better beer pubs around the Wasatch Front. However, their individual shops are always the best bets.

As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Annual Indian Food Fair

If you’re like me, you’ve always wondered how many samosas you can eat, but have never really tried because you don’t want the other customers to get weirded out. At this year’s annual Indian Food Fair, however, there will be way too many people to notice you testing your samosa-scarfing limits. I suppose it’s also an excellent place to enjoy the nuanced flavors and vibrant colors that India and its cuisine have to offer. Plenty of food vendors will be on hand, but the event will also include live performances, music and cultural merchandise. The event takes place at Liberty Park (600 Harvey Milk Boulevard) on Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

National Spam Musubi Day

Aug. 8 is National Spam Musubi Day, and we’ve got plenty of local spots where you can celebrate this classic treat. I’m partial to The Salty Pineapple out in Herriman (13262 S. 5600 West) because they pair nicely with their different sauces and it gives me an excuse to get a slice of guava cake. If you’re going for size, Lolo Hawaiian BBQ (lolohawaiianbbq.com) is a good bet and they also have five locations around town. Spam musubi connoisseurs will want to hit up Da Musubi Man (facebook.com/damusubimanslc) for some specialty takes on this Hawaiian classic. Wherever you like to get your Spam musubi, just make sure to down a few for yours truly.

The Sweet Tooth Fairy Foothill Closes

The Foothill location of The Sweet Tooth Fairy (1334 Foothill Drive) recently announced its closure via social media their official last day was July 31. Founder Megan Faulkner Brown opened The Sweet Tooth Fairy at the brink of the craft bakery trend that gripped the nation this local shop is a true pioneer among the many bakeries that we enjoy along the Wasatch Front. Brown will still be operating the two Sweet Tooth Fairy locations in Layton (2065 N. Harris Boulevard) and Orem (1064 S. 750 East), but Salt Lake fans of her colorful baked goods are distraught at the closure of this more central location.

Quote of the Week: “Baking is therapy.” –Paul Hollywood

THE BEEHIVE

Dog Days

Political comedy-drama in Kneecap, plus August special screenings

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Kneecap BB1/2

Writer/director Rich Peppiatt brings a punky, anarchic energy to this fictionalized biography of the Belfast-based hiphop trio Kneecap, but the fun gets tangled up in the political framework and too many subplots to really keep them all humming. It’s set during a contentious battle over legalizing the Irish language in the Britishcontrolled North, as trouble-making, drugdealing youth Liam (Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh) and Naoise (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) connect with Irish language/music teacher JJ (JJ Ó Dochartaigh) to begin recording and performing rap music in their native tongue. Trainspotting certainly provides the most obvious point of comparison, as Peppiatt seasons his visual filmmaking with animations, funky angles and bits of silliness like an “inside the nostril-cam” during a drug binge. The three leads are all fairly solid for non-professionals, but the liberating nature of their creative work ends up bumping hard against each one’s personal conflict: Naoise dealing with the legacy of his activist father (Michael Fassbender); JJ trying to keep his identity secret from his employer and his girlfriend; Liam trying to navigate a romance. Perhaps Peppiatt deserves kudos for trying to bring a weird comic sensibility—including a buffoonish group of anti-drug Irish Republicans—to something that’s also dead serious about its anti-colonial message. There’s only so far you can take the idea of this music as

a “bullet fired for freedom” when it’s juxtaposed with an inside-the-nostril-cam. Available Aug. 2 in theaters. (R)

AUGUST SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Silent Fallout special documentary screenings: A 2023 feature documentary by Japanese director Hideaki Itô and narrated by Alec Baldwin, Silent Fallout explores the lingering effects of nuclear testing in the Nevada desert in the 1950s. Two screenings—Thursday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m. @ Broadway Centre Cinemas ($15), and Sunday, Aug. 4, 4 p.m. @ The Leonardo Museum (free)—will both feature Q&A with Itô and Utah writer/downwinder Mary Dickson. us.fallout22.com/tour

Utah Filmmaker Showcase/Local Short Film Collection: The Utah Film Center presents an evening of eight short films by local filmmakers, covering a range of topics including the experience of a closeted trans teenager, an alien invasion and a four-hour dance performance. The event takes place at Liberty Park on Friday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m., free to the public. utahfilmcenter.org

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie: The 2021 feature film adaptation of the 2017 musical by Tom MacRae and Dan Gillespie Sells tells the true story of a 16-year-old British youth trying to overcome prejudice and bullying to become a drag queen. The Utah Film Center offers it as part of the Summer Outdoor Film Series at Liberty Park on Friday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m., free to the public. utahfilmcenter.org

“Can’t Stop the Serenity” @ Brewvies: On Saturday, Aug. 10 @ 5 p.m., the Utah Browncoats Society presents a screening of Serenity, the big-screen feature follow-up to the cult-favorite series Firefly, at Brewvies Cinema Pub. Following the screening, the event will head next-door to Legends for a fund-raiser auction. Tickets are $12.50 in advance online through Aug. 8, $15 at the door. utahbrowncoats.yapsody.com

Utah Dance Film Festival: A program featuring 33 films representing 15 countries comes to the Rose Wagner Center’s Leona Wagner Black Box, showcasing the art of dance for the camera. The event includes four individual screenings of the full pro-

gram—Saturday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 18 at 4:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.—plus filmmaker Q&A sessions and a free filmmaking workshop. General admission tickets are $10. arttix.org

The Maltese Falcon @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater: The venerable Ogden venue continues its centennial celebration—including its legacy as a movie palace—with a screening of the 1941 mystery classic The Maltese Falcon. The event takes place on Friday, Aug. 23, with lobby doors 6 p.m., house doors 6:30 p.m., screening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 general admission. ogdenpet.com

Harry Potter: Back to Hogwarts @ Megaplex Theatres: As kids get ready to go back to school, Megaplex Theatres invites viewers on a multi-week journey to revisit the Harry Potter films on the big screen. Beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, the eight features will each get one-week engagements at Megaplex Jordan Commons, $5 per screening. Megaplextheatres.com/en/ back-to-hogwarts CW

Home Again, Home Again

Cam Gallagher & The Tasty Soul remember their local roots

BY ARICA ROBERTS comments@cityweekly.net

It’s always good to come home. There are times when you outgrow your hometown and move away to bigger and better things, but it’s always good to come back to where it all began. Cam Gallagher & The Tasty Soul is a new soul/funk outfit now based in Nashville, but got its start right here in Utah—and founder Cam Gallagher is still proud of the band’s Utah roots.

Members of the group went to the University of Utah, BYU and Snow College. The group came together in 2021, and just started a tour with plenty of Utah dates to come, making it the perfect chance to welcome these native Utahns home.

Like many a recent creative project, The Tasty Soul was formed in response to COVID—but they’ve grown a lot since their formation three years ago. “[Our goal is to] bring an energized community to Salt Lake City in the midst of a lot of negativity in the world,” Gallagher said.

The community of musicians that make up The Tasty Soul aspire to be at the highest possible level with their instruments, songwriting and overall musicality. During the first few years as a Utah-based collective, the band performed just about every venue where there is live music, including Soundwell, the city bar circuit (such as Lake Effect), ABG’s in Provo, Mountain Town Music in Park City, various bars in Ogden, private parties and corporate gigs.

While the music community in Utah is

Cam Gallagher & The Tasty Soul

MUSIC

small, no one can say that it isn’t genuinely a community. “We’re a tight-knit group. Getting the arts and music in the forefront isn’t as easy or accessible as it is in Nashville. However, there is a really strong sense of community,” Gallagher said.

Finding like-minded individuals who shared Gallagher’s vision to be the best at their instruments, build a brand and bring a party wherever they play has yielded many opportunities. The band members range between the ages of 20–25, but have already played with Grammy-winning musicians Chris Potter and Jeff Coffin (saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band), and Gallagher recently collaborated with guitar prodigy Grace Bowers.

“You have to make the scene for yourself,” Gallagher adds. “Make your own shows and opportunities. Surrounding myself around people like that in both Nashville and Salt Lake has been huge.”

For someone like Gallagher, the determination comes naturally. “Music is internally everything to me, so it’s my very genetic makeup. Anything music, I gotta go for it. It’s everything. If you really are inspired and it makes a profound impact, a lot of the stuff like the people, the opportunity it will present itself because it’s your nature,” he said. The positivity and energy from Gallagher is evident in his tone and focus.

As for the overall musicianship, musicality and songwriting, Gallagher is proud of the way the band has been able to cultivate their identity more, and they do that by “installing jazz influences with improvisation and having a connection with the audience,” Gallagher explained. “We’ve been able to really cultivate our stage presence and musicality overall.”

Cam Gallagher & The Tasty Soul have a bright future ahead. They plan to play big-

ger venues, tour more and drop more music in the years ahead. Perhaps one day we will see them at Madison Square Garden or Coachella. “We gotta keep grinding and we will get there someday,” Gallagher says.

However, this Salt Lake City show will be special because, as he explains, “It is the community and foundation where everything I learned happened. It will be nice to come home.”

Come see Cam Gallagher & The Tasty Soul as they make their triumphant return home. Check out their newest single “Live at Broken Door Studios,” along with their other music on all streaming platforms, and be sure to watch their videos and live performances on YouTube.

Check them out on Wednesday, July 31 at Soundwell. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets for the all-ages show are $12 at soundwellslc.com. CW

THURSDAYS

FRIDAY, AUG 2

SATURDAY, AUG 3

SHARK SUNDAYS

POOL TOURNEY HOSTED BY TANNER

MONDAYS

REGGAE MONDAY WITH DJ NAPO

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS KARAOKE

BINGO

MUSIC PICK S

Alejandro Escovedo @ The State Room 8/1

Alejandro Escovedo may not be a household name, but he’s of musical royalty. Big brother and percussionist Coke Escovedo was a key member of Santana in the early 1970s; he co-wrote the hit “No One to Depend On.” Brother Pete was in the group, too; later, the two co-led pioneering Latin rock band Azteca. Another brother, Phil, played with jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader; Mario Escovedo led The Dragons for 15 years. Javier Escovedo fronted The Zeros and released a superb solo album in 2016, Kicked Out of Eden. And perhaps the best-known Escovedo is percussionist Sheila E., Pete’s daughter. But Alejandro is a hero of punk and alternative rock; he first came to some renown as a member of pioneering Bay Area band The Nuns, then as a member of alt-rock heroes Rank and File. After some work with Whiskeytown, he embarked upon an acclaimed solo career, one that combined all of the aforementioned musical textures plus a healthy dose of thoughtful, rough-hewn Americana. The acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist’s latest album, 2024’s Echo Dancing, has received the same kind of critical plaudits that followed his more than 15 previous albums. See and hear Alejandro Escovedo (with opener James Mastro) at The State Room on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets for this 21+ show are $35 and can be found at thestateroompresents.com. (Bill Kopp)

Toto Pena

Alejandro Escovedo

MUSIC PICK S

Air Supply @ Sandy Amphitheater 8/1

Air Supply could be considered an anomaly. Their music was built around sentiment— some would say “schmaltz”—but often shared from a personal perspective, and was emotional and engaging enough to assure their status as global hit-makers and one of the most successful singing duos of the ’80s. Like the Bee Gees, Little River Band, Men at Work and AC/DC, they were of Australian origin, proving that being half a world away from the music capitals of the U.S. and the U.K. didn’t hinder international stardom. In Air Supply’s case, they managed to sell 100 million records worldwide and reach the upper strata of the American charts, courtesy of such classics as “Lost In Love,” “All Out of Love,” “Every Woman in the World,” “The One That You Love,” “Here I Am,” “Even the Nights Are Better” and “Making Love Out of Nothing At All.” Clearly the ability to be both mellow and memorable served them well. The duo—Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell, the latter a longtime Park City resident—first met while in the chorus of the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and eventually went on to define the radio format known as “easy listening,” applying a soft-rock style that was generally agreeable to a cooler crowd. Since then, they’ve continued to tour and record, maintaining their popularity through both nuance and nostalgia. To paraphrase one of those aforementioned songs: here they are, the ones that you love. Air Supply performs at Sandy Amphitheater on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The all-ages tickets cost $40 - $74 at ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

Poolhouse, Rally, Orange Soda @ Kilby Court 8/2

How many shows have you been to so far this summer? If you’re looking to add to your tally, come check out this great trio of locals. You may have heard some of Poolhouse’s hits on their 2023 EP Tape Machine, or some of their more recent singles like “Yesterday,” or “Sorry Sucks,” which has steadily become one of their most popular songs. If you’ve heard these great tunes and not gone to see them live, what are you even doing? The Provo-based indie trio has cultivated a great fan base locally, and has grown a sizeable following online. They’re definitely worth checking out live if you’ve even bobbed your head a little bit to any of their songs. They’ll be joined by indie outfit Rally, who have also released a slew of great indie rock tracks in the past few years. Their two part EPs Songs From a Hotel Room (Day Side) and Songs From a Hotel Room (Night Side) are a unique and fun journey that warrant several listens. Also joining is Orange Soda, who creates a totally different type of music from the aforementioned groups, but still creates interesting music worth checking out. This is a lineup more than worthy of your Friday night. Come spend a nice evening at Kilby Court on Friday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

MUSIC PICK S

SANDORI @ Plumhouse 8/3

While summers in the city can be extremely hot, swim parties allow us to beat the heat. This weekend, the newest warehouse venue in SLC, Plumhouse, will host live music and swimming at the same time. SANDORI will headline and bring along an all-local lineup. Local artists keep the scene in SLC close-knit and strong, so showing up and supporting them is crucial. SANDORI (Ossilot Skyhaus) is originally from Florida, and has been part of the electronic dance music (EDM) scene for over a decade but started throwing his own shows and DJing four years ago. Since then, he has become a core part of the SLC scene, having recently played as an opener for Zeds Dead at the Rice-Eccles Stadium and just dropped his first original track this year called “Punchline.” Influenced by rap and reggae, SANDORI has his own unique sound, and will bring the vibe for dancing (and swimming). Don’t forget to wear your bathing suit and bring a towel. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will go ‘til late. Tickets can be purchased at the door of Plumhouse (733 S 400 West); part of the proceeds will go towards KANAVU “cave rave” hosted by Incorrekt. Go to incorrekt.ticketspice.com/kaavu and the Plumhouse social media pages for ongoing event information.

(Arica Roberts)

Jungle @ Gallivan Center 8/7

Jungle ticks a lot of boxes. The London duo of Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland have deftly flipped nu-disco/neo-disco/dance music to a fever pitch, and what’s not to love about their vision? Their music is danceable but doesn’t rely on a beat/ bassline combo that many might find offensive, plus smoothed-out vocals that are catchy enough for the lovers of the usual cheesy, synthy alternatives on the charts. The name Jungle is already associated with “good music,” so many of the snobs are on board because they know these musicians are good, and elevating to the same heights with which they kicked off. “You’re trying to limit the process of overthinking, and trying to not get in your own head. It’s a feeling, and it’s either working or it isn’t. It’s about trying not to game theory it,” LloydWatson told NME. “As human beings, we always want to go back and find that old feeling again, but you have to go towards the new way instead.” After decades worth of work, Jungle is ready for the mainstream propers that they deserve. And look, they are an incredibly fun band who are fantastic live and it’s summer … who doesn’t want to vibe to unashamed summer hits? BALTHVS and The Plastic Cherries open. Catch these musicians on the Twilight Concert Series at the Gallivan Center on Wednesday, Aug 7. Gates open at 6 p.m. At press time, tickets are sold out for the all-ages show; resellers can be found at vividseats.com (Mark Dago)

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

One meaning of the word “palette” is a flat board on which painters place a variety of pigments to apply to their canvas. What would be a metaphorical equivalent to a palette in your life? Maybe it’s a diary or journal where you lay out the feelings and ideas you use to craft your fate. Perhaps it’s an inner sanctuary where you retreat to organize your thoughts and meditate on upcoming decisions. Or it could be a group of allies with whom you commune and collaborate to enhance each other’s destinies. However you define your palette, Aries, I believe the time is right to enlarge its size and increase the range of pigments you can choose from.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

The star Westerners call Arcturus has a different name for Indigenous Australians: Marpean-kurrk . In their part of the world, it begins to rise before dawn in August. For the Boorong of northwest Victoria, this was once a sign to hunt for the larvae of wood ants, which comprised a staple food for months. I bring this up, Taurus, because heavenly omens are telling me you should be on the lookout for new sources of sustenance and fuel. What’s your metaphorical equivalent of wood ant larvae?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Seventy percent of the world’s macadamia nuts have a single ancestor: a tree in Queensland, Australia. In 1896, two Hawaiian brothers took seeds from this tree to their homestead in Oahu. From that small beginning, Hawaiian macadamia nuts have come to dominate the world’s production. I foresee you having resemblances to that original tree, Gemini. What you launch in the coming weeks could have tremendous staying power and reach far beyond its original inspiration.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Ketchup flows at about 0.03 miles per hour. In 35 hours, it could travel about a mile. I think you should move at a similar speed in the coming days. The slower you go, the better you will feel. The more deeply focused you are on each event, and the more you allow the rich details to unfold in their own sweet time, the more successful you will be at the art of living. Your words of power will be incremental, gradual and cumulative.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Astrologer Chris Zydel says every sign has superpowers. In honor of your birthday season, I’ll tell you those attributes she credits to Leos. At your best, you are a beacon of “joyful magnetism,” naturally exuding “irrepressible charisma.” You “shine like a thousand suns” and “strut your stuff with unabashed audacity.” All who are lucky enough to be in your sphere benefit from your “radiant spontaneity, bold, dramatic play and whoo-hoo celebration of your creative genius.” I will add that of course you can’t always be a perfect embodiment of all these superpowers. But I suspect you are cruising through a phase when you are the next best thing to perfect.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Virgo-born Friedrich August Kekulé (1829–1896) transformed organic chemistry with his discovery of the structure of carbon-based compounds. He studied the problem for years. But his breakthrough didn’t arrive until he had a dream while dozing. There’s not enough room here to describe it at length, but the image that solved the riddle was a snake biting its own tail. I bring this to your attention because I suspect you could have practical and revelatory dreams yourself in the coming weeks. Daydream visions, too. Pay attention! What might be your equivalent to a snake biting its own tail?

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Please don’t succumb to numbness or apathy in the coming weeks. It’s crucial that you don’t. You should also take extreme measures to avoid boredom and cyni-

cism. At the particular juncture in your amazing life, you need to feel deeply and care profoundly. You must find ways to be excited about as many things as possible, and you must vividly remember why your magnificent goals are so magnificent. Have you ruminated recently about which influences provide you with the spiritual and emotional riches that sustain you? I encourage you to become even more intimately interwoven with them. It’s time for you to be epic, mythic, even heroic.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Historically, August has brought outbreaks of empowerment. In August 1920, American women gained the right to vote. In August 1947, India and Pakistan wrested independence from the British Empire’s oppression. In August 1789, French revolutionaries issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man, a document that dramatically influenced the development of democracy in the Western world. In 1994, the United Nations established August 9 to celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. In 2024, I am naming August Scorpio Power Spot Month, a time to claim and/ or boost your command of the niche that will nurture your authority and confidence for years to come.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

August is Save Our Stereotypes Month for you Sagittarians. I hope you will celebrate by rising up strong and bold to defend our precious natural treasures. Remember that without cliches, platitudes, pigeonholes, conventional wisdom and hackneyed ideas, life would be nearly impossible. Just kidding! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. Here’s the truth. August is Scour Away Stereotypes Month for you Sagittarians. Please be an agent of original thinking and fertile freshness. Wage a brazen crusade against cliches, platitudes, pigeonholes, conventional wisdom and hackneyed ideas.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You’re never too old or wise or jaded to jump up in the air with glee when offered a free gift. Right? So I hope you won’t be so bent on maintaining your dignity and composure that you remain poker-faced when given the chance to grab the equivalent of a free gift. I confess I am worried you might be unreceptive to the sweet, rich things coming your way. I’m concerned you might be closed to unexpected possibilities. I will ask you, therefore, to pry open your attitude so you will be alert to the looming blessings, even when they are in disguise.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

A friend of a friend told me this story: One summer day, a guy he knew woke at 5 a.m., meditated and made breakfast. As he gazed out his kitchen window, enjoying his coffee, he became alarmed. In the distance, at the top of a hill, a brush fire was burning. He called emergency services to alert firefighters. A few minutes later, he realized he had made an error. The brush fire was the rising sun lighting up the horizon with fiery rays. Use this as a teaching story in the coming days. Doublecheck your impressions to make sure they are true. Most importantly, be aware you may initially respond with worry to events that are wonderful or interesting.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

At least a million ships lie at the bottom of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers. Some crashed because of storms, others due to battles, collisions or human error. A shipwreck hunter named Sean Fisher estimates those remains hold $60 billion of treasure. Among the most valuable are the Spanish vessels that sank while carrying gold, silver and other loot plundered from the Americas. If you have the inkling to launch adventures in search of those riches, I predict the coming months will be an excellent time. Alternately, you are likely to generate good fortune through any version of diving into the depths in quest of “wealth” in all of its many forms.

(CSE-DRN)

in Salt Lake City, UT.

Telecommuting permitted from anywhere in the U.S. Maintain

Hashicorp Vault instances. Provide admin support & onboard appls to store secrets in Hashicorp Vault. 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

Parade Again

It’s that time of the year again, when the Salt Lake Home Builders Association (SLHBA) hosts its annual Parade of Homes, August 2 through August 17. This highly successful event showcases new and remodeled homes with a heavy emphasis on higher-end construction and interior design.

Folks might not know that the first trademarked Parade of Homes in the country was held here in 1946. In the 1940s, without adjusting for inflation, the average cost of a home in the United States was $2,938, according to the United States Census Bureau. The inflation-adjusted price in 2024 dollars would make that $64,372.84. When compared to 1940, today’s prices are more than 20 times as high as the average price 80 years ago.

This year, the SLHBA and HomeAid Utah have put their talents together to present a really great home renovation of the Milestone House in Sandy. This place provides housing for young adults ages 19 to 21 who are experiencing homelessness.

This year, there are 20 properties to visit of differing price points, sizes and designs, located in the Salt Lake Valley from Herriman and Draper to Holladay and Millcreek, plus one in Grantsville. Tickets are $25 per person and are required for children ages three and older. They can be purchased online, inperson at the Salt Lake HBA offices, or through the Salt Lake Parade of Homes mobile app. Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and allow one entry into each parade home, plus two additional re-entries.

There are volunteers at each property to monitor crowds (yes, it can get crowded!) and answer questions, with some of the developers on site, along with loan officers, in case you see the home of your dreams!

People love the Parade as much as home shows at the convention center because it showcases the latest in products like flooring, appliances, hard surfaces, cabinetry, lighting and all the fun staging and décor that local companies put on display in hopes you need an interior designer or want to know where to buy items for your own home.

There are many sponsors and vendors who help bring this event together and you can talk to the hosts at the homes if you have questions about interiors, contractors, vendors, etc.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Playbill roster

5. “Pardon me”

9. Call partner?

13. Classic New Yorker cartoonist Peter

14. Confusion

16. Shakespeare’s river

17. Her latest album is 2020’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters”

19. Zeus’s wife

20. Actor Wheaton

21. Rent-___ (airport-adjacent service)

23. Sat ___ (GPS system)

24. Binge

26. Unofficial title for Stuart Sutcliffe or Pete Best

30. Frequent site for athletic injuries

31. CIO’s partner

32. Word before Faithful or school

33. Word on a gift card

35. Remarked

38. Picture in a dream

42. Underground signal carrier, maybe

45. Her “Hello” is used in the new “Weird”

Al polka medley

46. Herb used in some ritual burnings

47. Element #10

48. Sheep sound

50. Category

52. Monopoly quad, for short

53. Culmination of a hero-versus-villain arc

58. Pinstriped baseball team, on scoreboards

59. Indignation

60. Pasture mom

61. Seoul-based automaker

63. Medicine bottle

65. Completely healthy, with “in”

70. “CÛmo ___ usted?”

71. Brightly colored aquarium fish

72. Enjoy some jerky

73. Display

74. Basketballer O’Neal who cohosts “Lucky 13”

75. Park in London

DOWN

1. Half-___ latte

2. Shapiro who hosted the latest season of “The Mole”

3. Paperweight that gets shaken

4. “Beloved” novelist Morrison

5. Reddit Q&A feature, for short

6. Trending

7. Person living abroad, informally

8. Garden ground cover

9. “A Christmas Carol” outburst

10. Big do

11. Reef component

12. Rapscallion

15. Singer Bryson who duetted on “A Whole New World” (the version that hit #1)

18. ___ Romeo (sports car)

22. Memento of the past

24. Mediterranean port city

25. Pungent

27. “In that case ...”

28. Moves, as wings

29. Madison Ave. exec, stereotypically

34. Peach dessert name

36. Give ___ chance

37. 7, but not 77

39. Civil rights activist and King mentor Ralph

40. High praise

41. Minuscule, cutely

43. Territory

44. Honeycomb compartment

49. To the rear, nautically

51. Actress Palmer

Sadly, I don’t see home prices going down given the in-growth of residents to the Salt Lake Valley and our inability to keep up with housing demand. Builders and realtors would love to see impact fees for any new home reduced to allow for more construction and affordable housing.

Right now, some cities charge up to $40,000 of a new home’s price in municipal impact fees. Such fees are onetime charges that offset new development costs on public infrastructure like roads, water and sewage. Consequently, they boost the retail price of a new home, which often keeps potential buyers and consumers away.

See you at the Parade! n

“That’s

Spring sign

Tithing amount

Pruritus 64. It’s practiced as an occupation

Time of history

Answer section?

Light bulb variety

Source of milk for pecorino cheese

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.

Till bills

Like James Joyce

swell”

NEWS of the WEIRD

BY

Saw That Coming

Dustin Ebey, 35, a middle school math teacher from north Texas, has thrown his hat in the ring in a big way: He changed his legal name to “Literally Anybody Else” and is running a write-in campaign for president of the United States in Texas (where he didn’t get enough signatures to get on the ballot) and Tennessee (where he did get enough). ABC13-TV reported on July 17 that Else has revealed his running mate, Neal David Sutz, a New Yorker who is currently living in Switzerland. Else said Americans deserve better than the divisive, partisan electoral system we currently have. “This name gives everybody something to point to, to channel, that being to one movement, to one message that could hopefully have a meaningful impact,” Else said.

It’s Good To Have a Hobby

The force is definitely with these folks in Mexico City— students of the Jedi Knight Academy, who meet in a park four nights a week to practice their lightsaber dueling skills, the Associated Press reported on June 21. “When students arrive, some of them drop the saber,” said instructor Ulises Vazquez, who’s known as the Jedi master. He said they go on to become “excellent athletes and excellent lightsaber fighters and fencers.” The training sessions, which last three hours, are based on Jedi and Sith teachings. Vazquez and his best friend, Gabriel Mendoza, opened the academy in 2019, at which point lightsaber dueling had already been recognized by the French Fencing Federation as an official competitive sport.

The Aristocrats

During a visit to the Channel Islands on July 16, King Charles III took some time to bestow a special honor, the Associated Press reported. A rare golden goat breed found on the island of Guernsey will now have the title of Royal Golden Guernsey Goat, which will apply to the breed anywhere in the world. “Hopefully this will raise awareness for the breed,” said Rebecca Martin, the owner of a specimen met by the monarch. The king reportedly favored the goat with a compliment about its pale blond coat.

Hanger Pains

As Sam’s Club workers in Atlanta prepared to close the store on July 10, a family of three women arrived two minutes before closing time, hoping to order two whole pizzas, WSB-TV reported. Workers told the women it was too late and tried to summon a manager, but before they could, Andreana McKnight, the mother, moved into the kitchen and punched Cierra Monroe in the face. The daughters also came into the kitchen, joining the fight; other customers tried to break things up. Monroe said the blow to her face left her with a scar and she would like more security in the store. “I just feel like we need to have security from the moment we open to the moment we close, every day, seven days a week,” she said.

Bright Idea

A 33-year-old man named Jing, from the Hubei province in China, has put technology to work for him, the South China Morning Post reported on July 13. When he suspected that his wife, Wu, was having an affair with a coworker, Jing used a drone to follow her. Jing said his wife became “cold” to him last year; she also changed her position at work and “visited her parents” more often. The surveillance revealed that Wu went to a remote area, where she walked hand-in-hand with a man and disappeared for about 20 minutes into a dilapidated mud house. “Her other man is her boss,” Jing said. He plans to use the footage in a divorce case.

Awesome!

At a zoo in Liaoning province in China, a pair of penguins tied the knot in early July with all the traditional trimmings—and they already had the suits! The South China Morning Post reported that the event was held in the birds’ pavilion, with the standard red “double happiness” character, eight banquet tables filled with fish and shrimp and dozens of penguin guests. The breeder gushed that he had watched the couple “getting to know each other, falling in love and then walking down the aisle together.”

Walgreens: The Lost Hours

When police in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, were called to a Walgreens store around 3 a.m. on July 15, they could see a man inside helping himself to a pack of Newport cigarettes, WESH-TV reported. They talked Christopher Morgan through unlocking the front door and asked him if there was anyone else in the building; in apparent confusion, he replied that he didn’t know. “I came in here to use the bathroom,” he explained—but that was more than five hours before, around 9:40 p.m., when security footage showed him entering the restroom. He didn’t come out until 2:42 a.m. When police asked him what time he thought it was, he said, “Probably 11 o’clock.” While locked in the store alone, Morgan feasted on junk food: Tostitos spinach dip, chips, Reese’s and Ghirardelli chocolate and Dr Pepper. Morgan resisted arrest and spit on an officer; he was charged with burglary and larceny-petit theft.

Irony

Honest Abe Auto Sales in Indianapolis is settling a lawsuit for bait-and-switch tactics, falsely advertised prices and preying on customers with poor credit ratings, the Indianapolis Star reported on July 17. More than 250 customers who were taken in by the misnomer are now being paid back to the tune of $471,000. “The fact that they call themselves ‘Honest Abe’ just makes the facts of this case especially rich,” said Attorney General Todd Rokita.