City Weekly October 17, 2024

CITY WEEKLY salt lake FREE

Cutting the GRASS

FLOWERS

Both Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC will get you high, but experts say it’s smart to know the difference.

BY BENJAMIN M. ADAMS

SEEDS

ROOTS

By Benjamin M. Adams

S AP

BOX

“The Bigger Picture,”

Sept. 26

Cover Story

I am very interested in the article in the September 26 edition of City Weekly. Wes Long’s research was very interesting.

I was interested because William Armitage’s daughter Annie was considered the widow of John R. Park, who was the president of the University of Deseret, (later becoming the University of Utah).

Park had met Annie when she emigrated to the United States. Park had been in Europe studying European edu-

cational systems. In Utah, Annie became very ill and people thought she would die.

LDS leaders convinced John Park, a bachelor, that he needed to be married in the hereafter for the Mormon Celestial Kingdom. They were sealed, but Annie did not die.

Park decided he did not want a wife, so Brigham Young canceled the sealing and Annie married policeman William Hilton. They had several children. But when Park died in 1900, Annie sought part of Park’s estate, which had been willed elsewhere.

The Utah Supreme Court decided that the LDS leaders could perform marriages, but that the LDS Church’s president did not have the authority to divorce anyone. So, Annie Armitage Hilton got part of the estate of John R. Park.

The article has put the Armitage family in context for me. Thanks.

JEFFERY O. JOHNSON Salt Lake City

“Direct Hit,” Oct. 9 Online News

Editor’s note: Readers react to the Utah Transit Authority’s preferred route—known as Alternative 3—for a planned Trax Orange Line, which would bypass a connection with Frontrunner’s Salt Lake Central Station while creating a direct route between the SLC International Airport and the University of Utah.

It’s time for people to stop beating around the bush and embrace the Rio Grande Plan. Alternative 3 is perfectly aligned to service the Rio Grande Depot. It’s not even a question at this point.

ANDREWKATSO Via Instagram

Just do the Rio Grande Plan! I swear the solution to so many problems is literally staring us in the face right now and we keep dancing around it. Rio Grande Plan is the answer to so many of our mobility problems.

SOY_SAUCE97 Via Instagram

Time for a new central station with the Rio Grande Plan.

RIOGRANDEPLAN Via Instagram

It’s like they’re almost getting to understanding the Rio Grande Plan needs to happen.

Come on Utah government, let’s make this happen!

HAVEYOUMETFRED Via Instagram

It’s a step in the right direction! Rio Grande Plan is gaining momentum!

ZACHSCRIVEN Via Instagram

Care to sound off on a feature in our pages or about a local concern?

Write to comments@cityweekly.net or post your thoughts on our social media. We want to hear from you!

THE WATER COOLER

What are your favorite horror movies?

Krista Maggard

The Shining, the Scream franchise, Silence of the Lambs, Midsommar, Get Out, Fresh. On the campier side, I’d say From Dusk Till Dawn and, of course, Evil Dead! I’m more into psychological/mystery/crime thrillers—I love a good story line and a touch of levity never hurts!

Carolyn Campbell

Villains are the strength of horror movie stories. I like the Evil Dead movies because of the Deadites, the Halloween movies because of Michael Myers and Wait Until Dark because of scary Alan Arkin threatening Audrey Hepburn.

Eric Granato

Return of the Living Dead, it’s my comfort movie.

Chelsea Neider

The Shining, The Ring, The Strangers, Pet Sematery (1989), The Conjuring, Misery, The Babadook, A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Wes Long

Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Frenzy (1972), Black Christmas (1974), The Shining (1980) and The Thing (1982).

Kayla Dreher

I refuse to watch horror movies. The scariest I’ll go is Ghostbusters.

PRIVATE EYE

BY JOHN SALTAS

Cox the Unworthy

One year ago today—October 15, 2023—my mother Stella Nepolis Saltas died. All of her children were there. Everyone had been at her side those last ominous days, starting not long prior when she was pulled over for speeding while driving home from bingo. The day before—October 14, 2023—was her 96th birthday. Happy birthday, Mama.

Yesterday morning, I arose and drove alone to her gravesite to deposit some flowers, among them roses, her favorite flower and the one which gave her the middle name of Rose. It was the first time in 70 years I did not speak to her on her birthday. Well, I did, of course, but I’m not sure she heard me.

I spoke to my dad, too, for good measure—he beating her to their dual resting place by nearly 20 years. He did hear me. I know because nothing got by that guy. Nothing. I pulled their mutual urn from the headstone and added a pink rose, several red ones, a couple white daisies (taken from my yard) bundled with a bunch of mint—an homage to her father, who grew mint all over the place in his Bingham Canyon garden. Among the flowers and mint, I attached a small piece of embroidery that I’d recently purchased at the St. John the Baptist Monastery (Makrinou) that lies in the hills between the ancestral Saltas vineyards and home in Megara, Greece (from where my grandparents departed for the USA in 1906) and the sea resort town of Alepohori that lies on the Gulf of Corinth below. It’s a beautiful monastery and one of my mother’s favorite places on earth. It was conceived, organized and

built by my dad’s first cousin, Makrini, starting in 1960. Eighty nuns live there currently, but not Makrini herself, having died a couple of years ago to COVID.

My mom used to love buying little kitschy things from shops all over Greece. But one of her favorite places to buy anything remotely religious was from the small shop at the Megara monastery. That simple embroidery was just a little something I wanted to give her when I got back this year. So, I pinned it to the flowers, said a little something, visited the multiple relatives buried nearby and drove home.

Today, the whole shebang was missing. I’m pissed, but it reminds me that people copped flowers that my mom had regularly left upon her parents’ grave in the same cemetery and how she’d just shrug it off. I wish I had more of that forgiveness gene, I really do, but sometimes I’m quite bereft of it. Like today.

To the day she died, my mom was 100% against anything and all that Donald Trump stood for. She probably called him more nasty names than all of his ex-wives and his female victims combined. He was the visual antithesis of everything she ever stood for, starting with being kindhearted, giving and sharing. She had no use for the fellow and would say things like, “Daddy (her Cretan father) would hate that man.”

Yes, he would, but there’s little point in bringing that up to a generation of people who don’t like to be reminded of recent events, let alone those that shaped the mind of a “dirty, no good, swarthy, treacherous, lying, lazy, sick, thieving, keep your hands off our women, we don’t want your kind here, go back home” immigrant Greek who was scared and only 20 years old when he started mining coal for the monopolist coal industry in 1906.

Thank goodness there were decent Utah citizens who were not so bigoted and mean—my grandfather married one, after all. Utah changed, or so it appeared. Why, even such men as Gov. Spencer J. Cox proclaimed as much, pre-

senting his masked face to a new generation of Utahns that he was a healer, a person who could be trusted by all minorities—ethnic, social, and religious—to at least lend them an ear.

But Spencer has revealed himself as a special kind of mean person of late. A bigot? Yeah, I’d say so. Now that he’s endorsed Donald Trump—guided by “faith,” no less—he’s pretty much out of the closet on that one.

Since the Cox endorsement, Trump has gotten far worse in his crazy utterances and his deeper embracement of racism and allowance of Nazi symbolism at his organized events. Cox has left the closet of bigotry, has augered in, and cannot even denounce, the overt fascists that left members of my family dead in Greece during World War II. Cox apparently imagines that “faith” is expressed by simply writing notes about it. I’m not a deeply religious person. I don’t talk about my faith, shallow as it is, and I don’t preach about it. I don’t mind hectoring hypocrites, however.

This year, I entered scads of new and ancient monasteries and churches all over Greece for a look-see. In each of them—especially on the island of Tinos, where women crawl on their hands and knees from the seaport to the hilltop church that honors the Virgin Mary there—I witnessed more exhibitions of “faith” than Cox will ever accumulate in his ballpoint pen.

When Cox bitched about his personal “faith” being offended by the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games, I wrote here that I’d buy him an Orthodox icon called the Mysticos Deipnos (Mystical Dinner) that predates the Last Supper (the imagery that Cox cited as central to his being “offended”) by centuries as a gesture that he might expand his understanding of other faiths.

Well, I found one and bought it. But it’s not going to Cox—he’s not worthy. You’re welcome, Mom. CW

Send comments to john@cityweekly.net

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY KATHARINE BIELE

MISS: Road Warriors

Here ‘s a startling statistic. “Road rage deaths due to gun violence increased by more than 89 percent in 2020-2024, compared to the four years immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to The Trace, an outlet that reports on gun violence. Admittedly, Utah isn’t the biggest offender—Texas is. But vehicles are definitely becoming a weapon of first resort when drivers get anxious. The American Psychological Association points to environmental and emotional factors that are setting people off. Now, one state legislator, Centerville Republican Rep. Paul Cutler, has passed a law to study what’s happening in Utah. And because it’s Utah and the Utah Way, Cutler is working on statistics and asking people to just calm down. He wants to educate drivers about the ramifications of their actions. Just this month, road rage left a 50-year-old man dead. Before we ask everyone to meditate, we might look at the stresses that cause this phenomenon.

MISS: Out in the Cold

Your fall planting headquarters

We still haven’t figured out how to handle homelessness. In the state’s first attempt to track homeless deaths, it identified 216 people who died on the streets, The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Oct. 8. That’s 10 times the rate of people dying in the general population and is affecting people who are 16 years old and younger. The big takeaway is that these deaths are likely undercounted. More than one-third died from substance abuse, which offers a window to solutions. The state report “outlines some options, such as increasing cooperation between homeless service providers and harm reduction groups that run syringe exchanges or give away free drug-testing materials and opioid overdose-reversal drugs.” Maybe this is finally a first step to addressing the problem. You have to know what homelessness looks like before you can change it.

HIT: Deck the Hall

Big sigh of relief—maybe. Abravanel Hall will not be run over by a huge sports complex, unless it will. The Salt Lake County Council passed a resolution to spare the Utah Symphony’s home after the Smith Entertainment Group captivated the Salt Lake City Council in a deal for dollars. The city now plans to tax residents and visitors to augment the billionaire developer’s sports and entertainment vision. That grand vision originally did not include preserving Abravanel Hall, but public outcry changed that, for the moment. The county owns the facility, and says it will work closely with the Smith group until they figure things out sometime next year. Comments on the Deseret News website weren’t hopeful, but the ink on a deal isn’t dry yet—“We need leaders who will say: you want to tear down Abravanel, you get no $ and no lease. And make it binding,” said one commenter. CW

Power Brokers

It may seem like the Utah Legislature is power hungry. Their recent sleight of hand would have asked voters to approve Amendment D, allowing lawmakers to eviscerate any citizen ballot initiative. It didn’t happen, but something surely will.

While Utah was the second state to establish an initiative and referendum process, it took 16 years to make it happen. Even then, the Legislature didn’t like it and made it almost impossible—voters who supported initiatives had to sign documents in-person before someone “competent to administer oaths,” according to Ballotpedia.

That changed after WWII, but it still took until 1960 for voters to approve their first initiative, which created a merit system for hiring deputy sheriffs. Next came a battle with hunting enthusiasts, who passed Proposition 5 in 1998, requiring animal protection initiatives to pass by a two-thirds vote. Sound familiar? Last session, legislators attempted to pass an amendment requiring two-thirds votes on any initiative with tax implications. Citizens balked and it failed—at least for now.

The operative message from the Legislature is that Utah will become “California” if it allows unfettered initiatives. But since 1952, Utahns have passed only seven initiatives; in California, since 1912, it’s 137 initiatives.

University of Utah professor Jim Curry thinks much of what’s happening is lawmakers tweaking the system’s internal process, including a 2018 amendment that allows the Legislature to call itself into special session, a power previously reserved for the governor. “It’s adjusting how their legislative counsel reports on things, how it can call itself into session,” Curry said. “These are pretty standard legislative powers. There is supposed to be a clear separation of powers.”

Curry suggests Utah will see some “constitutional hardball” in the next legislative session. But others warn that could go too far.

“It’s been disturbing to see our Legislature become more and more distanced from the actual will of the people they serve, all in the name of aggregating power,” said attorney David Reymann, who worked on the independent redistricting initiative.

Earlier this year, lawmakers pulled the plug on their Legislative Research and General Counsel, which had been writing ballot summaries. The task was turned over to the House speaker and Senate president, and the Utah Supreme Court found their summary of Amendment D to be misleading and unconstitutional. They’ve since voided Amendment A on similar grounds.

To say lawmakers are unhappy is an understatement. They’ve blamed the ruling on “unelected judges.” Make no mistake, the Legislature is coming for the courts—even though judges are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. “Courts don’t overstep their bounds when they tell the Legislature what the constitution means,” Reymann said. “They vindicate the people’s rights that the Legislature has been trying to take away.”

By the Book

A roundup of Salt Lake County events for the 2024 Utah Humanities Book Festival

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Every October, the non-profit Utah Humanities presents the Utah Humanities Book Festival, a celebration of books and writers, with a focus on local creators, books and themes. The programming has been mostly separated by region for 2024, and events in the Salt Lake Valley wrap up over the course of the next several days. Here are some of the remaining highlights for those who just can’t get enough bookishness in their lives; all events are free to the public.

AUTHOR EVENTS

Jeff Nichols: In works including creative non-fiction, short fiction, poetry and more, The Arches Reader collects examples of how the distinctive landscape of Arches National Park has inspired visitors. The 2024 anthology’s editor, Jeff Nichols, discusses “Stories from the Arches” at Salt Lake City Library Auditorium (210 E. 400 South) on Friday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.

Brandon Mull: Fantasy writer Brandon Mull may be one of Utah’s most popular literary exports, creating fantasy series like Fablehaven, Dragonwatch and Beyonders. Mull visits the Salt Lake City Library Auditorium (210 E. 400 South) for a discussion, reading and signing event Friday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. Zak Podmore: Environmental journalist Zak Podmore explored the impacts of

climate change on the American Southwest—with a focus on Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam—in his 2024 book Life After Dead Pool: Lake Powell’s Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River. The author discusses his book and what the future of the region could look like at the Salt Lake City Library Auditorium (210 E. 400 South) Friday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Mike Finkel: Stéphane Breitwieser, over the course of eight years and more than 200 heists, become the most prolific art thief in history, accumulating works for his own private collection and never benefiting from them financially. Park City-based author Mike Finkel explores Breitwieser’s story in 2023’s The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession, and discusses the New York Times bestseller at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (20 S. West Temple) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m.

Tim Z. Hernandez: In 2017, author Tim Z. Hernandez published All They Will Call You, his exploration of the 1948 California plane crash that resulted in 32 fatalities, including 28 Mexican citizens being deported by the U.S. government. This year, he releases the new memoir They Call You Back, about his personal efforts to find the surviving family members of that crash’s victims. He discusses his books at Ken Sanders Rare Books in The Leonardo building (209 E. 500 South) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m.

Laurie Lee Hall: Living as a man, Laurie Lee Hall was a high-ranking elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an architect who designed temples; when she decided to live her truth as a woman, she was excommunicated. Hall discusses her upcoming memoir Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as a Woman at the Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium (210 E. 400

South) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.

Al Hess: Writer Al Hess has found a unique niche folding the worlds of neurodivergent and queer characters into science-fiction tropes in books like Yours Celestially, World Running Down and the award-winning Hep Cats of Boise series. Hess discusses his work at The Legendarium bookstore (349 E. 900 South) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

League of Utah Writers Banned Books Discussion: It’s been an (unfortunately) eventful year in Utah for the subject of book-banning, with new legislative rules for our schools. The executive committee of the League of Utah Writers—including regular City Weekly contributor Bryan Young—discusses what has happened and what comes next at Salt Lake City Library’s Marmalade Branch (280 W. 500 North) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m.

Creative Tensions: Freedom to Read: Salt Lake City Library executive director Noah Baskett and a panel of authors discuss the challenges to artistic freedom involved in book-banning and other censor-

ship efforts at the Salt Lake City Library 4th Floor Conference Center (210 E. 400 South) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m.

Great Salt Lake Conversation: Authors, artists and activists join in a conversation about being inspired by the Great Salt Lake in an event at the Salt Lake City Library Auditorium (210 E. 400 South) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.

WRITER RESOURCES

Great Writing No Matter the Genre: Writer/ editor Lisa Mangum leads a workshop for writers exploring some of the fundamentals of creating characters, establishing conflict and other creative tools in the Salt Lake City Library 4th Floor Conference Center (210 E. 400 South) on Friday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.

The Joy, Wonder and Magic of Research in the Middle Grade Book: Authors of middle-grade books including Allison Hong Merrill and Amy Bearce discuss how researching their subjects enriches their writing, and their research processes, in a presentation on the lower level of the Salt Lake City Main Library (210 E. 400 South) on Friday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. CW

Brandon Mull

Laurie Lee Hall

theESSENTIALS

Gabriel Iglesias

There are certain topics that are generally considered off-limits, even as far as jokes are concerned—appearance, nationality, religion, and place of origin chief among them. Yet, on the other hand, self-effacing humor is often excused and considered an exception. Just ask Gabriel Iglesias. He pokes fun at his own girth, but qualifies it by claiming, “Oh, I’m not fat; I’m fluffy!” He’s gone on to share five euphemisms that describe various stages of being overweight — “Big,” “Healthy,” “Husky,” “Fluffy” and “Damm!,” with a sixth level he added afterwards: “Oh hell no!”

Nevertheless, any offense he’s caused clearly hasn’t impeded his comedy career. His stand-up specials for Comedy Central and Netflix—chief among them I’m Not Fat … I’m Fluffy and Hot and Fluffy—have helped elevate his status as one of America’s favorite plus-sized comedians. His Netflix sitcom Mr. Iglesias—along with his voice-over work in the Fox animated sitcom Family Guy, a stint as host of his Comedy Central show Stand Up Revolution and a well-received appearance on the Nickelodeon sketch series All That—have not only enhanced his fame, but certainly his fortunes as well. After initially rising to the rank of finalist on Last Comic Standing, he’s now become one of the world’s highest-paid comedians. In 2022, he even became the first comedian to sell out L.A.’s Dodger Stadium. Consider those some genuine heavyweight credentials. Gabriel Iglesias brings his “Don’t Worry Be Fluffy” tour to the Maverik Center, West Valley City, on Fri, Oct 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $62 - $82.50. Go to Ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

Vampire Ball –Hunt By Darkness

It is officially “spooky season,” and if you like to celebrate Halloween all month long, the Vampire Ball is the perfect event. It will be a night of entertainment—from silk performers to burlesque dancers—in keeping with the long-standing sex-appeal of vampires as suave, mysterious, and often beautiful creatures of the night. For fans of Anne Rice, think of this as the Salt Lake City version of the annual Théâtre des Vampires Ball in New Orleans.

According to the event description, you will “step into a world where elegance meets the macabre.” There probably is not a more perfect place for a vampire ball in our city than the Salt Lake Masonic Temple, which has been a building of mystery and intrigue with a somewhat haunting vibe for nearly 100 years. Along with hosts and entertainers in full-costume, attendees are also expected to dress up. Get out your corsets, ball gowns and suit jackets (and don’t forget some fangs!).

This event takes place at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple (650 S. Temple) on Saturday, Oct. 19, with doors open at 8:30 p.m. General Admission costs $60, with an option for a couple’s ticket for $100. There is also an option for VIP tickets, which include expedited entrance to the venue, backstage access, and access to a private speakeasy with a separate bar, as well as tarot and palm readers. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to eventbrite.com. (Arica Roberts)

Orcas: Our Shared Future @ Natural History Museum of UT

For years, they were primarily known to us as “killer whales,” a name that was not only taxonomically incorrect—they’re actually members of the dolphin family, Delphinidae—but built an image as threatening and scary. And while orcas are indeed apex predators, they’re far more complex than simple “killers,” with a majesty that has inspired cultures around the world. As we learn more about them, including how captivity in aquariums has harmed them, they become even more fascinating. Produced by MuseumsPartner in partnership with the Royal BC Museum of Victoria, British Columbia, the traveling exhibition Orcas: Our Shared Future seeks to demythologize these amazing creatures, and welcome visitors into their world and how they are a part of ours.

Through interactive components, life-size orca replicas, fossils, films and more, the exhibition spans our understanding of orcas and their societies, from their representation in popular culture through the artwork created by indigenous cultures representing orcas. You’ll even have the opportunity to experience the exhibition through the perspective of orcas themselves. It’s a unique combination of stories and science that allows visitors to see beyond the “killer whale” to the magnificent creatures they truly are.

Orcas: Our Shared Future comes to the Natural History Museum of Utah’s Rio Tinto Center (301 Wakara Way) on Saturday, Oct. 19, currently scheduled to run through April 20, 2025. The exhibition is included with regular museum admission ($17.95 - $22.95), and free to museum members. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday – Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesday. Visit nhmu.utah.edu for tickets and additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

From Our Friends At

Scary Movies

A range of fears drive three releases.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

We Live in Time AAA

To the credit of director John Crowley (Brooklyn) and screenwriter Nick Payne, they trust the audience to keep up as their romantic drama slides forward and backward through the lives of its two protagonists—though the title itself ends up doing some of the thematic heavy lifting. Mostly, it touches down periodically in three time-frames for up-and-coming chef Almut (Florence Pugh) and recently-divorced salesman Tobias (Andrew Garfield): the early days of their relationship; the final weeks of Almut’s pregnancy with their child; and their shared struggle dealing with Almut’s health crisis. Crowley spends plenty of scenes emphasizing clocks—the timer Tobias wears around his neck for labor contractions, countdown clocks for a cooking competition, etc.—as part of a not-particularly-subtle recognition that time moves fast, and that we can’t always know the outcome of the choices we make. Fortunately, the story is mostly lighter on its feet than that heavy-handed thesis might suggest, including a restrained approach to a marriage proposal, and a wonderfully chaotic sequence as Almut prepares to deliver their baby at an inconvenient moment. The two leads have the kind of chemistry required to drive a narrative of this kind, with Pugh in particular serving up plenty of her trademark spiky energy. It’s not much trouble keeping up with the temporal leaps, and humor leavening the melodrama makes it worth the effort. Available Oct. 18 in theaters. (R)

Woman of the Hour AA1/2

There’s a hell of a lot going on in Anna Kendrick’s feature directing debut, provocative in bits and pieces but struggling to pull together into a single story. Kendrick also stars in the fact-based circa-1978 narrative as Cheryl Bradshaw, a struggling would-be actor in Hollywood desperate for face time who takes a spot on The Dating Game unaware that Bachelor #3 is Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), a prolific rapist and serial killer. The game-show set-up takes up a relatively small

amount of the running time, as Ian McDonald’s script also looks in on Alcala’s other crimes, with Zovatto delivering an effectively creepy performance when Alcala’s attempts at charm tip over into disturbing, and Kendrick’s direction impressively building tension. Yet it feels like this is also an attempt to craft a “here’s what happens when you don’t believe women” cautionary tale, particularly in the sub-plot involving a witness (Nicolette Robinson) who recognizes Alcala from the Dating Game studio audience. And that’s all aside from Kendrick’s own role, which feels like an attempt to implicate media expectations of women in Alcala’s crimes. A character at one point describes the goal of The Dating Game as figuring out “which one of you will hurt me,” and as interesting as that idea could be, Woman of the Hour is just a bit too wide-ranging at trying to investigate it.

Available Oct. 18 via Netflix. (R)

Rumours AAA1/2

Canadian director Guy Maddin has spent much of his career plundering the aesthetics of silent film, particularly German Expressionism, for his funky deadpan comedies. Here, however—working again with his The Green Fog co-directors Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson—he remains squarely in the real world of our present, adding a satirical edge to his singular sense of humor. The action is set at a summit of G7 nation leaders in Germany—including the chancellor of Germany (Cate Blanchett), U.S. president (Charles Dance), Canadian prime minister (Roy Dupuis) and British prime minister (Nikki Amuka-Bird)—to craft a joint statement on an unspecified “crisis.” But in the midst of their meeting, they become isolated from the rest of the world, trying to understand if they’re facing some strange, supernatural event. Those unfamiliar with Maddin’s sensibility should come prepared for truly weird stuff like a giant human brain and masturbating zombies. For my money, though, Rumours works best on a lower-key level, like the dramatic music that plays while Blanchett tries to explain the complicated financial scandal facing the Canadian prime minister, or how the filmmakers acknowledge then quickly dismiss Dance’s American president speaking with a British accent. The pacing does poke along, perhaps appropriately for a tale in part about performative, dead-end politics. It’s just hard to resist a movie where the “swag bag” for the G7 leaders includes an extremely niche magazine called Incumbent Life Available Oct. 18 in theaters. (R) CW

Cutting the GRASS

FLOWERS

Both Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC will get you high, but experts say it’s smart to know the difference.

BY BENJAMIN M. ADAMS COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

There was a time when we used “THC” to describe a single compound, and there was virtually no confusion about it. However, in reality, there are a handful of psychoactive compounds in cannabis, and they have distinctive characteristics.

These days, there are two THCs that you’ll often see as the active ingredient in hemp and cannabis products: Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC.

Delta-8 (D8) and Delta-9 (D9) THC are two phytocannabinoids, or cannabis compounds, and they both produce a psychoactive effect. They both get you high and can be found in Utah medical cannabis pharmacies as well as hemp products, yet distinguishing between them can be difficult, as products containing one or the other look nearly identical.

They’re closely related in chemical structures, yet fundamentally different, both in the way they are extracted and also in the way they are regulated. Knowing the difference between these forms of THC is critical to the health and wellbeing of medical cannabis patients and consumers of hemp products alike.

Chemically speaking, D8 THC is an isomer (same chemical formula, different properties) of the psychoactive compound Delta-9 THC—the THC we all know that gets us high. American cannabis research pioneer Dr. Roger Adams—who first isolated CBD in 1940 and researched it for the U.S. government—also knew of these compounds. (Adams was unfortunately entangled in the second “Red Scare” and accused of being a Communist amid the scourge of McCarthyism.)

Other cannabis researchers like the late Raphael Mechoulam—who helped make Israel a center for progressive medical cannabis research—have known about Delta-8 THC and many other cannabis compounds for decades, and they were explored for their medicinal properties. Weirdly, THC, which is the compound most consumers are seeking, wasn’t isolated until 1964 by Mechoulam.

In other words, D8 THC is nothing new to cannabis researchers. However, products containing D8 THC have suddenly grown popular in recent years.

Today, D8 is primarily used as a “diet weed” that has a milder, more subjective, hit-or-miss high. Products with D8 THC and other hemp-derived ingredients can be found in hemp shops or at gas stations that don’t require a medical card like a medical cannabis pharmacy. This is because hemp and its derivatives are legal at the federal level.

D8 derived from hemp does also pop up from time to time in medical cannabis products found in medical cannabis pharmacies. But the operators whom City Weekly talked to noted that most patients want to avoid it, or at least avoid confusing the two compounds.

In the cannabis community, products that contain D8 lead to a political flashpoint. Some believe the way it’s processed from hemp makes it dangerous, while others say they prefer it to Delta-9 THC.

But people who are informed about the differences between hemp-derived THC or THC derived from potent cannabis say there is an abundance of misinformation floating around. Hemp and cannabis, for instance, are the same species and they are defined differently under law simply by their levels of THC.

“THC is THC, whether it’s hemp-derived, whether you actually grew it in hops, or whether it came from traditional cannabis plants,” said Blake Smith, chief science officer at Zion Pharmaceuticals and an expert in the biochemistry of cannabis. “The only real difference between Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC is where there’s a double-bonded carbon. On a Delta-9 molecule, the double bond is on the ninth carbon, and on a Delta-8 molecule, it’s on the eighth carbon.”

So why are these two compounds so different? The raw form of D9 THC occurs naturally on cannabis plants as they grow and mature, the way nature intended.

Continued from page 17

Blake Smith, chief science officer at Zion Pharmaceuticals

“THC is THC, whether it’s hempderived, whether you actually grew it in hops, or whether it came from traditional cannabis.”—Blake Smith

You can pick cannabis right out of the ground, dry it and smoke it and get high from D9 THC, which becomes activated when a flame or heat is applied or when it is processed for edibles.

D8 THC, on the other hand, only appears in traces in living cannabis plants. Therefore, any products containing enough Delta-8 THC to have an effect are made by adding Delta-8 THC that has been converted from hemp-derived CBD.

How is this possible? Well, all the active compounds in potent cannabis or hemp share a relatively similar structure, and can be converted to one another using chemical processes. The problem with this is that when CBD is converted to D8 THC, other compounds are involved in the process, and it could be ingredients you don’t want to inhale.

“Think about breakfast cereal,” Smith said. “If you only knew what 80% of your breakfast cereal was, you would never eat that breakfast cereal.”

D8 products are essentially a money machine, despite a monumental pushback from state and local governments: The U.S. hemp-derived cannabinoid market is estimated to be $28.4 billion—a “conservative” estimate—according to Whitney Economics’ 2023 National Cannabinoid Report. The sheer power of hemp’s economic viability weighs heavily on lawmaking efforts in many states. Call it “Big Hemp.”

Don’t start freaking out, however. Just because you see Delta-8 THC on the lab results of medical cannabis, it doesn’t necessarily mean that synthetic, hemp-derived D8 has been added to your product, because the lab results will also pick up traces of it as well as other compounds. This is normal for cannabis to have traces of D8 naturally showing up in lab results.

Delta Variants

Why do some Utah medical cannabis patients lose their minds when they find D8 in their products? Many worry that the process to make it is sketchy, at best, let alone possibly dangerous.

The process to convert CBD into Delta-8 THC involves a solvent and acid in a mixture, as well as CBD, usually derived from hemp. It also requires extreme heat. Opponents of D8 THC and other hemp-derived compounds prefer to avoid products that contain additives and compounds obtained via this process.

The safety of hemp-derived cannabis products that produce an effect is dependent on the accuracy of processors.

Smith explained how the mixture bubbles like soda, releasing C02. As more heat

is applied, he said, the molecule becomes stable and moves its bond, shifting from the ninth carbon to the eighth carbon.

“They’ll take CBD and then there’s another part of the molecule that has what’s called the hydroxyl group, and it’s an unclosed carbon ring,” Smith said. “If we throw hydrochloric acid—a really gnarly acid—onto this molecule, and we heat it up and cook it super hard, what happens is you actually close that ring. And once you close that ring, it literally becomes THC from CBD.”

Smith explained that some patients reject Delta-8 THC because it has to be separated from a soup of other compounds and processed with an acid and solvent.

But operators like Smith say that D8 shouldn’t be consumers’ only concern when it comes to hemp-derived products.

“The other big issue is—when you’re going through that process—you don’t only make Delta-8 and Delta-9,” Smith added. “You also make Delta-10, Delta-6, THCO, THCP, etc. There are 30 or 40 other molecules that you’ll end up making some amount of.”

And while D8 THC carries many of the same therapeutic and medicinal characteristics of traditional D9 THC, he said, the net effects of the other compounds created through this process are not as well understood.

“We know what some of those do, but we don’t know what a lot of them do,” Smith said. “Some of those molecules are perfectly safe, and your body knows what to do with them. There’s other molecules that your body doesn’t know how to process, and so this is where the health concern comes in for Delta-8.”

Pure D8 THC produced by state-compliant labs shouldn’t worry patients and consumers, experts say, but not all cannabis compounds are safe. THC-O—a compound that’s processed even further from Delta-8 THC—drew ire from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), a pro-cannabis organization, after they raised flags in 2023 about its potential dangers of inhaling THC-O acetate.

Certain ingredients simply should not be inhaled—like vitamin E acetate, an ingredient that is perfectly safe to eat but not safe when heated. In 2019, vape makers foolishly added vitamin E acetate to their products as a thickener before clearing it, corresponding with an outbreak of lung injuries. This is why the rush to roll out inhalable products is dangerous and depends on quality control and safety measures.

EVALI stands for e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury. There was a breakout of EVALI around 2019, according to the American Lung Association. So even if a consumer is vaping a cannabis product, it’s not necessarily safer than smoking in the event that there is a presence of certain potentially dangerous ingredients.

COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

“The concern with hemp-derived Delta-8 THC is that its production often results in many unknown side products and contaminants that have harmful or undetermined physiological effects”

BRANDON FORSYTH, UDAF medical cannabis director

Continued from page 18

The American Lung Association essentially agreed with NORML, citing vitamin E acetate and similar ingredients as the main culprit behind the waves of EVALI cases as vape manufacturers took things too far.

Hemp product sellers also infuse products with hemp-derived Delta-9 THCA or other compounds, as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is constantly refining its definitions of “THC.” Delta-8 THC, because it is extracted from industrial hemp, is legal at the federal level, but potent cannabis rich in Delta-9 THC is only legal at the state level, and only in certain states under various regulatory regimes.

Legal Loopholes

In 2018, federal lawmakers inadvertently legalized Delta-8 THC when they moved to legalize industrial hemp and its derivatives. The main purpose of hemp reform was to remove hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. But in doing so, it also legalized hemp derivatives, some of which can be converted into psychoactive compounds through the process described above.

In December of 2018, then-President Donald Trump signed into law the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018—known colloquially as the 2018 Farm Bill. Since then, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been working as quickly as possible to implement the new law.

Potent medical cannabis products rich in Delta-9 THC, on the other hand, are strictly regulated in medical cannabis pharmacies, run by the states and legal at the state level.

The U.S. government then defined hemp in legal terms as cannabis and cannabisderived products containing THC levels of 0.3% or less by dry weight, and hemp was removed entirely from the federal definition of marijuana.

Many states, Utah included, preemptively chose to regulate Delta-8 THC like its strictly regulated medical cannabis system. Other states and jurisdictions chose to ban it entirely. According to the National Cannabis Industry Association, 17 states ban the sale of D8; however, several of those states allow it within the medical cannabis systems. More than 20 states chose to regulate it.

The biggest blow to the intoxicating hemp industry happened recently in California. Like Utah, patients and people not invested in the hemp industry pushed back against products containing ingredients like D8. On Sept. 6, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency ban on intoxicating hemp products—i.e. products

containing D8 or D9 THC that have been converted from hemp-derived CBD. The main reason for this is because the products are sold without the same regulations as the state’s medical and adult-use cannabis products, yet they are essentially the same thing as they can get you high.

If a hemp product seller in Utah is following the rules, the product would be vetted for potentially dangerous impurities.

“Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC are regulated similarly in Utah due to how our Industrial Hemp program is structured,” said Brandon Forsyth, director of medical cannabis and laboratory services at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). “Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring phytocannabinoid that is commonly found in small amounts in high-THC cannabis strains. Delta-8 THC is psychoactive, and as such, it is regulated similarly to Delta-9 THC, but it is not generally regarded as being more dangerous than Delta-9 THC.”

Like Smith, Forsyth pointed to the variety of compounds that can be generated during the processing of D8 THC, noting that they are less understood than more traditional cannabinoids.

“The concern with hemp-derived Delta-8 THC,” he observed, “is that its production often results in many unknown side products and contaminants that have harmful or undetermined physiological effects.”

City Weekly’s sources explained that a consumer can walk into nearly any hemp shop in Utah, pick up five products and most of them probably won’t be registered with the state. So why are hemp-derived products that cause a psychoactive effect easy to find in Utah? Part of the reason is that hemp and potent cannabis are essentially the same species and there’s no real way of distinguishing the two via chemical analysis.

“Hemp-derived, Delta-8 THC and other synthetic cannabinoids are commonly found in poorly manufactured black or gray market products that have not been subjected to the testing required for Utah hemp product registration,” Forsyth said. “Because it is impossible to determine if Delta-8 THC is natural or hemp-derived through routine chemical analysis, it is allowed to be present in small amounts in registered hemp products.”

Among the requirements for THC, D8 and its analogous compounds should fall below 0.3% in the products available to consumers, he noted.

“Unfortunately, many retailers in the state are breaking the law by selling illegal hemp products that pose a significant risk to public health,” Forsyth said.

“We

received so many complaints that we pulled all Delta-8 products from the shelves.”

—WholesomeCo.

co-founder Alex Lorg

Pharmacies and Patients

Desiree Hennessy, executive director of the Utah Patients Coalition, says she worries about Delta-8 products sold outside the state’s regulated medical cannabis program.

So what are medical cannabis pharmacy operators saying about D8? It may not be as simple as it seems.

“Delta-8 and -9 hemp products are readily available throughout the country, and specifically target states where cannabis is not legal or only legal for medical use,” said Alex Lorg, co-founder of WholesomeCo, one of Utah’s 15 medical cannabis pharmacies. “They advertise their ease of access, lack of regulation surrounding their industry and that they will get you high. Users should be cautious and really research the companies and products they intend to consume; many pretend to be medical-grade quality products, when they are not.”

Delta-8 THC-infused products were present in the early days of Utah’s medical cannabis system. But patient organizations like the now-disbanded Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education (TRUCE) pushed to block D8 from being infused into medical cannabis products—instead opting for “cleaner” medicine that contains more natural ingredients. Other patient organizations take different approaches to the compound, asserting instead that these products should be tested for contaminants and arguing that if they do so, they are likely not dangerous.

“Early in Utah’s medical cannabis program, when cultivators were still building facilities, there was a deficit of product available in the market,” Lorg explained. “And for a short time, Delta-8 products were made available in medical cannabis pharmacies. We received so many complaints that we pulled all Delta-8 products from the shelves.”

Lorg said the feedback from his patients was that D8 products were of lower quality and not satisfying their needs in the same way or as well as more traditional cannabis products containing D9.

“Even though these products passed multiple testing standards for safety, patients overwhelmingly preferred the nonhemp-derived products,” he said. “We are fortunate those days are behind us and Utah producers now harvest many thousands of pounds of medical-grade cannabis each year.”

Experts suggest that patients should keep themselves informed about how hemp products are made, and if the active ingredients come from different sources. Since medical cannabis sold in pharmacies is subject to rigorous lab testing, so should hemp products, which are essentially the same thing, especially if they contain significant amounts of D8.

“The Utah Patients Coalition believes that Delta-8 products within the medical cannabis market in Utah are clean and safe due to the required testing standards,” stated Desiree Hennessy, executive director of the Utah Patients Coalition, an organization that represents medical cannabis patients. “However, we have concerns about the safety of Delta-8 products found outside this market, as the lack of testing leaves uncertainties regarding potential impurities.”

Smith agreed, emphasizing the importance of understanding the source of THC products that patients consume.

“Get it from a trusted manufacturer. Don’t buy just some random thing because they’re like, ‘this will get you super high,’” Smith stressed. “You need to trust who it’s coming from. And if you don’t know how to pick a good company, then there’s guidelines to do that.”

Hemp farmers bend over backward to ensure that their hemp crops have less than 0.3% THC on a dry-weight basis—the USDA’s requirement. So the whole concept of making products to get high from hemp—non-psychoactive by definition—defies logic, as something that’s convenient and inexpensive to make. It’s a loophole in federal law that lawmakers never intended to create.

Right after hemp production began to soar in Utah, things got complicated, partially due to the challenges of growing hemp at a high altitude. In 2019, UDAF Cannabis Program lead inspector Miles Maynes said that UDAF inspectors collected more than 700 field samples, but too many samples turned up “hot” with more than 0.3% THC on a dry-weight basis.

All this excess hot hemp has to end up somewhere. More than 10% of those same field samples registered as hot when tested by UDAF’s scientists. Researchers recently discovered that a mountain environment, with more UV length exposure, “deeply influences” the quantity of compounds such as the raw form of CBD, and published their findings in a March 2020 issue of the academic journal Molecules

If someone consumes a product containing D8 and feels high from it, the product was probably converted from hemp-derived CBD. And depending on who a person talks to, Delta-8 THC alone probably isn’t dangerous, but the amateurs out there who are converting it from CBD may or may not be ensuring there are no dangerous impurities that may or may not be harmful.

Experts stress that it’s every patient’s individual responsibility to know the source of the products they consume, and not all cannabis products are equal in terms of safety and compliance. CW

Continued from page 21 COURTESY

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The Pappardelle’s New Groove

After a retool and rebrand, Lupessa is ready to entertain you.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

By my estimation, Lupessa is the third Italian restaurant to occupy its current space at The Gateway. In many ways, it represents the evolution of Utah’s collective food scene: What started as a California Pizza Kitchen has morphed into something on the fine-dining end of the spectrum. Its few years as Italian Graffiti may have had a few ups and downs, but this current rebrand looks to be breaking some new ground for the property.

Though Lupessa hasn’t changed ownership since the rebrand—it’s still owned by Las Vegas-based Nice Hospitality, which also operates the Gateway’s HallPass food hall—it has undergone a considerable metamorphosis. Where Italian Graffiti leaned into an Instagrammable atmosphere that catered to the “diningas-content” crowd, Lupessa seems to have stripped things down a bit. It’s still lovely on the inside—I absolutely cannot believe it was once home to a CPK, of all places—and the focus on housemade pasta and traditional recipes has been fine-tuned to match their concept.

Based on the menu setup, Lupessa is the kind of Italian fine dining that encourages you to build a multi-course meal, and luxuriate in small plates and cocktails throughout the process. While some of the dishes I tried could work pretty well on their own, the portion siz-

es at Lupessa really do lend themselves to multiple courses, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a visit.

Those who are looking for a multicourse culinary adventure will want to start off with some house-made focaccia ($8), because it’s excellent. Onsite focaccia has been taking off recently—not that I’m complaining—but Lupessa’s baking chops on this front check off all the right notes here. It’s got a fantastic soft-yet-chewy texture, a hint of olive oil flavor and just the right amount of salt. Those who like to make bread more of a focal point to their trip will want to try the semolina garlic bread ($14), which is a spruced up take on an old favorite.

I always get lured in by the siren call of arancini, and Lupessa’s arancini di funghi ($16) are a nice variation of this classic appetizer. The truffle crema tossed with some local wild mushrooms was tasty, but I found myself wanting more of these earthy flavors integrated within the arancini themselves. On the lighter side of the antipasti menu would be the carpaccio di salmone ($22), which is served with some nice cherry tomatoes, chimichurri and a bit of mint. It’s a perfect way to kick things off for those after something light with an acidic bite.

The primi section of the menu is where pasta-lovers will want to hang out. All the usual suspects are here, but keep in mind that Lupessa is whipping up their pasta onsite, which equates to maximum tastiness. Both pappardelle pastas are good bets—they have a carbonara ($27) with some sharp pecorino cheese, and a pappardelle all’anatra with a deep, rich duck bolognese ($29). The pappardelle all’anatra beat out the carbonara in my estimation; that duck bolognese is simply marvelous on the tongue, and it’s the one I’d recommend to anyone who just wanted to do a

pasta course. Of course, the gnocchi ($26) with its prosciutto cream sauce and thyme is another great option for those after a single, hearty pasta dish.

Those hankering to go for the secondi have a few options to check out. If you’re swinging for the fences, the filet ($58) or the New York strip ($65) need to be on your radar. The filet at least has some grilled beets and parsnip puree so you can say you got some veggies with your protein, but that dry-aged New York strip, slathered in a garlic-and-parmesan butter, is pure indulgence.

In the middle tier, you’ll find the pollo alla parmigiana ($26), which is a slightly fancier variation of the traditional chicken parm you’d find at most Italian joints. For my own dining purposes, I liked the capesante toscane ($33)—a trio of plump sea scallops served over spinach with a lemon caper butter that finishes things off on a lighter note. I’ll always be a sucker for Italian dishes that incorporate the citrusy flavors of fresh lemon, and they worked really well in this dish, but I did feel that the sauce came on a bit stronger than I would have liked.

All things considered, if having this space start off as a California Pizza Kitchen needed to happen so it could experience the Italian evolution that brought us Lupessa, I suppose I can forgive the trespass. The restaurant rebranding seems to be working in the space’s favor. It’s taken the energy down ever so slightly to create an opportunity for diners to simply enjoy traditional Italian food with a bit of good wine, a bit of good bread and plenty of good vibes. CW

Pappardelle all’Anatra

HAIL SEITAN GO VEGAN!

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Piney Peaks “West Coast IPA”

avenuesproper.com

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap:  Festbier

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

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

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street

Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: HARVEST - Wet Hop Amber

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

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices

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: Hip Check Ice, an Imperial Lager

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: Imperial Cider, RaspberryHibiscus 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: Locals Only - Wet Hop Harvest Ale with 100% Utah Ingredients

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Cheeky (English Pub Ale); Sweet Revenge Oktoberfest (Collaboration with Strap Tank)

Level Crossing Brewing Co.

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

On Tap: Vienna-Style Lager

Follow us on Instagram: @ levelcrossingbrewing

Level Crossing Brewing Co., POST

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

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

Moab Brewing

686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

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

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com On Tap: Boysenberry Hibiscus Cider for a Cure

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

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

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

Park City Brewery 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: GNAR Juice - 5.0% Hard Seltzer, infused with electrolytes from Gnarly Nutrition

Policy Kings Brewery

223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com

Prodigy Brewing

25 W Center St. Logan

Prodigy-brewing.com

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

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

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices

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

On Tap: I am the VVitch Seasonal Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices

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: Out of the Park Hazy Pale Ale

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Roosters Ogtoberfest

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

On Tap: Rose Jam Wheat on draft for Pink Party

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: Prickly Pear Kolsch

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

On Tap: Shacksbury Sweater Weather 8% ABV

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

On Tap: Spiced Peach

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake

ShadesBrewing.beer

On Tap: 6 Wheat Under; Black Cloud Black Lager

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.

– Oktoberfest Lager

Squatters and Wasatch Brewery

1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115 Utahbeers.com

On Tap: Lord of Bavaria Marzen Small Batch Series Release: Polyandry Pilsner

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

On Tap: “The Sundering” (Passionfruit/Guava Juicy Pale); “Stay Gold” (English Golden)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com On Tap: The Gambler (Mango Kolsch); Caught in the Rain (Pineapple Sour)

TF Brewing

936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Strata Fresh Hop Pale Ale

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

On Tap: American

BEER NERD

Fresh Hops are Here

Harvest-time hops provide a full sensory assault.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

This week, we’re getting into some of the fresh hop IPAs and IPLs. These are beers that can only be produced in the autumn harvest months. The basic premise here is that all the hops in these beers have gone from bine to brew kettle within a 24-hour period. The result is a fresh, more explosive hop flavor profile that has a big, flowery, mouth-coating effect. There are many out right now; these are some of the newer examples that I’ve come across.

Red Rock - Fresh Pickins: This India Pale Lager was made with 135 lbs of fresh Amarillo hops. It has a light golden color featuring excellent clarity and good effervescence. An off-white head provides a short cap that dissipates quickly. Fresh citrus was dripping wet on the nose—juicy, with some pine indications. Damp floral notes along with some fresh tropical pineapple mingles with a light citrus-lime mention. Good strength overall, and some damp oranges and floral blossoms appear on the fade of the aroma.

Initial swig brings bright and tart flavors, tangy oranges have some slightly dry floral leaf hopping to compliment. Some pine and sweet grains, with a light dry citrus grind finish. The distinct bright orange glow comes on strong mid-drink, some dank hop appeal, with a finish of dry peach and fruity floral. Light mouthful, session style, some honey grains, smooth feel, with a medium stickiness. Lightly creamy, good depth as it builds.

Verdict: A nice, fresh hop experience from a lager that offers a bright burst of single-hop Amarillo with a wide variety

of flavors. Brightly hopped, very strong drinkability, especially considering its 6.9 percent ABV.

Offset Bier - DAMP 24.02: Our second fresh hop beer utilizes 20 lbs per barrel of wet Chinook and Centennial hops on the boil, then dry-hopped with freshly kilned Chinook, Centennial, and Amarillo, with a second dry hop addition of Simcoe and Columbus Cryo. This is considered to be a West Coast IPA in style. It pours a deep amber/golden color with some straw-yellow highlights. The head retention is nice, and the lace is well-defined. The nose is floral and citrusy upfront, with the Centennial and Amarillo doing some heavy lifting and giving off elements of key lime, rose hips and crushed flower petals along with fresh-cut grassiness and grapefruit zest.

Although Amarillo and Centennial are both well-known for their use in West Coast pale ales, they combine to make a juicier impression here. Chinook and Simcoe are both intense hops, as well, but for different reasons.

There are tangelo-like elements—a cross between tangerines and pomelos—and it’s pretty heavy on that citrusy flavor, especially toward the mid-palate where it works super well with the slightly chewy pale malt backbone. The finish is even juicier, with some light mango undertones and more mandarin orange tanginess.

Verdict: Damn! The old school hops here have never been presented to me this way in an IPA. It’s super fruity and citrus-forward, with great fruit salad qualities. Brilliant.

Generally, you want beers like these as fresh as possible. At the time of my sampling, these were just days in the can, so I recommend seeking them out right now. They are both small batches, and won’t be around forever.

DAMP 24.02 is available in 16-ounce cans, both at the source in Park City and at your better beer pubs. Fresh Pickins is also in 16-ounce cans, and can be found at all Red Rock locations and your better beer pubs as well.

As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Beltex Meats Announces Closure

According to a recent Instagram post, Philip Grubisa and his team at Beltex Meats (511 E. Harvey Milk Blvd.) are planning on closing up shop at the end of the year. For the past decade, the Beltex team has shown Salt Lake residents how awesome it is to have a small, boutique butcher shop in our backyard. From the weekend sandos to their consistent commitment to producing highquality ingredients, Beltex has been a unique powerhouse in our local food scene. It’s more than a bummer to hear this news, though I am sure Grubisa and his talented team will be back on the scene in some awesome capacity soon enough. In the meantime, make sure you’re checking them out for their holiday deals before Dec. 24.

Thieves Guild Cidery Opens the Gates

I spend a good amount of time in the Central Ninth neighborhood, so I have peeped on the progress of Theives Guild Cidery (thievesguildcidery.com) ever since it first announced its plans to set up shop. Per the cidery’s Instagram account, the team is planning on a grand opening set for Oct. 25. It’s exciting news for fans of local craft spirits—as the name implies, Thieves Guild is all about the ciders—but it’s also a win for fantasy dorks of all stripes. Scrolling through the website, I’m already giddy with anticipation to sip craft ciders among the mounted demon skulls and D&D tavern vibes that the establishment seeks to replicate.

Halgatteok Opens

Though it will take me a few tries to pronounce this Korean restaurant’s name correctly, I have been extremely excited to see that Halgatteok (halgatteokslc.com) is finally open. Its claim to fame is the traditional Korean dish known as tteokbokki, which consists of chewy, cylindrical rice cakes tossed in a broth of angry red spices. There are a few places around town where you can get this textural wonder, but a spot that offers several different variations—along with some tasty looking Korean banchan appetizers—is most welcome. Halgatteok is calling the Chinatown Supermarket (3390 S. State Street) home at the moment, so I’ll be checking it out in the very near future.

Quote of the Week: “The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.” – Confucius

Music Mailbag

October 2024, Part 2

More notable releases you need to check out

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

No Such Animal, “Medusa”: No Such Animal is a young band that crafts incredible rock tunes beyond their age. When you press play, you hear heavy, driving guitar, vocals that are mature and deep, with a good rasp and high amounts of energy. Their new song, “Medusa,” feels like a track straight out of the rock ‘n roll playbook, in the best way possible. It’s not overly formulaic and feels like it flows nicely, allowing for an enjoyable listening experience. “Medusa” would be the perfect soundtrack to someone zooming down the road on a Harley, a feeling greatly helped by the titular character doing exactly that on the art for the single. If you’re needing some good old-fashioned rock ‘n roll, look no further. The genre is definitely alive and well with No Such Animal. “Medusa” is streaming everywhere now.

Belle & The Blackbird, “Purple Lightning”: In another offering to the gods of rock ‘n roll, Belle & The Blackbird’s newest track “Purple Lightning” is fast, rhythmic, loud and oh-so-easy to headbang to. Here you’ll find thrashing drums,

ripping guitar solos and crisp vocals. There’s not too much to say about this one other than “it rocks”—and if you want to rock out, you should listen to it. “Purple Lightning” is streaming everywhere now.

Duncan Lutz, Live from Ogden Canyon: Full transparency: I’m an Ogden girlie, and as such, I’m going to be a tad biased toward songs about my hometown, especially ones that involve the gorgeous mountains and canyon that have been dang near in my backyard since I was a kid. Singer/songwriter Duncan Lutz seems to be someone who also loves O-Town, and paid a loving tribute to the city with his new EP, Live from Ogden Canyon. Unsurprisingly, it focuses on the mountains, enjoying life and making it through hard times. This EP is stripped back, featuring Lutz and a guitar, but nothing more is needed. His sweet voice paired with equally sweet-sounding strumming and picking will have you mesmerized and putting the songs on repeat. Even if you’re not an Ogdenite, you can still enjoy these musings from an incredibly talented local musician. Live from Ogden Canyon is streaming everywhere now.

Pdubba-U, Past Lives: Back in July, PdubbaU was featured on Van Sessions (a live music show/podcast in Ogden) and gave a stunning performance; since then, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them, especially now that their debut album Past Lives is out. The album is theatrical, fun and well-done in almost every aspect. The musicianship featured on the album is out of this world, as are vocalist Wesley Knight Jensen’s pipes. He’s able to belt and reach the highest of high notes with grace and

MUSIC

ease. Throughout the album you’ll hear shredding guitar solos, punchy drums and captivating lyrics. If you’re a friend of altrock, this is an album you need to run, not walk, to listen to. Past Lives is streaming everywhere now.

Eyes of Eva, music video for “Drown With Me”: “I’ll give you blood to drink / with these last words I speak / I’ll give you ash to breathe / As I begin to sink / Take my hand and inhale the deep / I’ll make you drown with me / I’ll make you drown with me.” So sings Shawnii Secrest, vocalist for Eyes of Eva. “Drown With Me” is heavily inspired by the Salem Witch Trials back in 1692—more specifically, the story of Sarah Good, who was sentenced to death that year. Her last words before her execution were, “I am no more a witch than you are a wizard, and if

you take my life from me, God shall give you blood to drink.” The band wrote the song in honor/remembrance of Sarah Good, and all of the women who were falsely accused and put to death centuries ago. The song is dedicated to these women, and the music video gives listeners a beautiful visual not only for the song, but the situation in which Good found herself before her life was cut short. The song and video are both incredibly poignant, and fans of metal and history can come together to appreciate both. This music video release isn’t brand-new, but as we get closer to Halloween, more people will be thinking about all things spooky and tragic, and the Salem Witch Trials definitely fall into those categories. “Drown With Me” is streaming everywhere now and the music video can be found on YouTube.

The releases on this list aren’t the newest of the new, but if you haven’t come across them, now is the time to do so—you’ll be glad you did. CW

THURSDAY,

FRIDAY,

SATURDAY,

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

Skeletal Remains, Bewitcher @ Aces High Saloon 10/17

Death metal and the Halloween season go hand-in-hand. The genre is chock full of creepy imagery, and there is of course the sound itself— hardcore and heavy. L.A./ Portland-based metalheads Skeletal Remains are passing through just in time for spooky season, and are sure to bring plenty of material for you to injure your neck to while you headbang the night away. They’re out promoting their newest album Fragments of the Ageless, which came together by “sound fundamentals, killer musicianship and the right attitude,” according to their website. “With every record, we try to push ourselves to make a better record,” guitarist/vocalist Chris Monroy said. “We don’t get into, ‘We need to sound more like this or that.’ What comes out of us is natural. Actually, that’s how it’s been since the first record [Beyond the Flesh]. As death metal fans, we write what we enjoy and want to listen to.” This album is heavier than the band’s previous work, and it can definitely be heard when you press play on that first track. If you’re in the mood to hang at a cool biker bar with some loud and heavy tunes, look no further. Catch Skeletal Remains with Bewitcher on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $20 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

UPCOMING SHOWS

ALISXN GRAY x HALLOW

Escuela Grind

David Liebe Hart Pony

Ask Carol

Halloween PIzza Party IV

Big Pinch

AND 2 EACH 3 BUTTON KEY FOBS

MUSIC PICK S

Mdou Moctar @ Metro Music Hall, 10/18

The digital age brought with it some fundamental shifts in music industry paradigms. Tuareg guitarist and songwriter Mdou Moctar was a beneficiary of those changes, leveraging them to catapult himself to prominence in his home country of Niger. These days he tours the globe with his distinctive music. Moctar’s music draws from Tuareg folk traditions and rhythms, but with the power, energy and attitude of rock. Yet they’re rarely constrained by the rules—structure, tempo, meter—that govern most popular rock music. Westerners might perceive a psychedelic flavor to his instrumental approach, but that quality might have more to do with its hypnotic, freewheeling nature than anything else. Tempo shifts, extended guitar solos, one-chord trancelike jams and a conventional melody might all appear in one song. Women’s rights, religion and Western exploitation of Africa all figure into the lyrics of Moctar’s original songs, but English-speaking listeners are likely to miss all that, as he sings in his native Tamasheq language. But the emotions at the core of his music get through. Mdou Moctar comes to Metro Music Hall on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.; Rosali opens. Tickets are $20/adv, $25 day of show and are available at 24tix.com. (Bill Kopp)

Olivia

Sparkle Horse

Sparkle

Linda Ronstadt

Papercut Memory Release Party @

Boardwalk Sound 10/19

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: There’s nothing quite like attending a release show. There’s something special about getting to hear a new release from an artist before that new music rolls out, or getting to be the first ones to hear it live. It’s a perfect moment that won’t happen again, so it’s great to be one of the ones who get to say that you were there. Papercut Memory refers to themselves as “aggressively mediocre,” which of course means they’re underselling themselves, sarcasm or not. Emo is a comfort genre for me, and Papercut Memory’s music fills me with equal parts nostalgia and excitement. It has that ’00s/’10s alt/emo sound, but they continue to give us new releases. Their music is well thought out and easy to listen to for hours without even realizing. We’ll get to hear from Papercut Memory and what they have up their sleeves, and they’ll be joined by St. Cruz, You’re the Worst and Head Above Water. Don’t end up with a case of FOMO, and come hang out

with this excellent lineup on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 and can be found at theboardwalksound.com. (EA)

Porter Robinson @ The Great Saltair 10/18

Get ready to be in all your feelings for this one. Legendary DJ and producer Porter Robinson has made a lasting impact in EDM since he was signed to fellow EDM powerhouse Skrillex’s label OWSLA when he was just 18 years old. His first album, Worlds, was the number one for Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic albums. This year, he released his third album, Smile! :D, and this stop in SLC is part of his Smile! :D World Tour showcasing the new album. Robinson is known for innovation in electronic music, and this album was launched via a unique concept. Beginning in February 2024, he posted a fictional video from the future (2028) explaining that he would delete his entire discography from the internet, and then disappear on March 1, 2024. After the countdown, he then announced this newest album was complete.

The album was released in July, along with the launch of the tour. One of the new songs, “Russian Roulette,” best explains the themes of “oblivion, of career suicide, of disappearing” as he strives to find a balance with his obligations as a popular name in the world of EDM. For example, the lyrics “Pitchfork reports / They’re calling me, their words / The big new thing oh / YouTube review, funny monkey /…And I thought it’s strange to sell my face / But let’s just make the most of it / Now my hand is drawn / I put the gun against the thing that’s stopping me.” He shares a look behind the curtain of some of the darker aspects of the music industry with incredible vulnerability and self-awareness. Porter Robinson plays at The Great Saltair on Friday, Oct. 18. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets vary in price based on seating, so get yours soon at ticketmaster.com. (Arica Roberts)

Homeboy Sandman @ The Pearl on Main 10/22

There’s so much to love on the outer edges of hip hop. Homeboy Sandman has been ruling the underground for a number of years now, and if you can appreciate rap music beyond what is on the charts and dig a compelling perspective,

then listen to the Sandman. You will absolutely love getting to know him. “For me, being honest and being authentic generates all the magic in my life, you know?” Angel Del Villar II (a.k.a. Homeboy Sandman) told HotNewHipHop.com.

“Makes everything about my world go better: my relationships go better, my creativity, which are works in progress for me, because I need to be honest with myself.” Homeboy Sandman is an actively inventive emcee, who has released an impressive roster of projects dating back to 2007. With an output that runs the gamut from compositions founded in old-school genres and boom bap to EPs, mixtapes and compilations, he’s an artist at the height of his lyrical powers: DIY, focused, detailed, intricate, precise and frequently awe-inspiring. And look, it’s not just the number of words he uses—it’s the selection. Mastering vocabulary, wordplay, storytelling, abstract imagery and streams of consciousness, he’s responsible for some of the best records of the last ten-plus years. Art Morea, Earthworm, Freemind Movement and DJ Mixter Mike open.

Catch these acts on the Wild Wild Rich tour at The Pearl on Main on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $15 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Mark Dago)

Homeboy Sandman

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

As a young adult, I lived in a shack in the North Carolina woods. I was too indigent to buy a car or bicycle, so I walked everywhere. Out of necessity, I discovered the practical power of psychic protection. I envisioned myself surrounded by an impenetrable violet force field and accompanied by the guardian spirits of a panther, wolf and bear. This playful practice kept me safe. Though I was regularly approached by growling dogs and drunk thugs in pickups, I was never attacked. Now would be an excellent time for you to do what I did: put strong psychic protection in place. You’re not in physical danger, but now is a good time to start shielding yourself better against people’s manipulative gambits, bad moods, emotional immaturity and careless violations.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“Dear Rob: I once heard you say that the best method for solving any dilemma is to sit silently, calm my mind, and listen for the ‘still, small voice of the teacher within me.’ I have tried your advice, but I have never detected this voice. What am I doing wrong?—Deprived Taurus.” Dear Taurus, here’s how to be available for guidance from the voice of your inner teacher: 1. Go someplace quiet, in nature or a beloved sanctuary; 2. Shed your ideas and theories about the nature of your dilemma; 3. Tenderly ask your mind to be empty and serene as you await intuition; 4. Feel gratitude for each breath as you inhale and exhale; 5. Visualize your inner teacher smiling; 6. Make yourself expectant to receive an insightful blessing.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

In the parlance of people who trek in natural places, a “cobbknocker” refers to a hiker who precedes you and knocks down the spider webs crossing the trail. I would love for you to procure a similar service for your adventures in the coming weeks, not just hiking. See if you can coax or hire helpers to clear a path for you in everything you do. I want you to be able to concentrate on the essentials and not get bogged down or distracted by trivial obstructions. You need spaciousness and ease.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

When you’re at your best, you nurture others but don’t smother with excessive care. You give your gifts without undermining your own interests. You are receptive and sensitive without opening yourself to be abused or wounded. In my estimation, you are currently expressing these qualities with maximum grace and precision. Congratulations on your ever-ripening emotional intelligence! I trust you will be rewarded with grateful favors.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Here’s the deal life is offering: You temporarily suspend your drive to possess crystalline certainty, and you agree to love and thrive on ambiguity and paradox. In return, you’ll be given help identifying unconscious, hidden factors at work in your destiny. You will be empowered to make confident decisions without needing them to be perfect. And you will learn more about the wise art of feeling appreciative reverence for great mysteries.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

I once had a Virgo girlfriend. She was talented, hardworking, meticulous, organized, health-conscious and resourceful. She also hated it if I neglected to put the honey back in the cupboard after using it. She would get upset if I neglected to remove my shoes as I entered the house. Her fussy perfectionism wasn’t the reason we broke up, but it did take a toll on me. I bring this to your attention because I hope you will mostly keep fussy perfectionism to yourself in the coming weeks. It’s fine if you want to indulge it while alone and doing your own work, but don’t demand that others be equally fastidious. Providing this leeway now will serve you well in the long run. You can earn slack and generate good will that comes in handy when you least expect it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Your bulboid corpuscles are specialized nerve cells in your skin that can experience intense tactile pleasure— more so than any other nerve cells. They are located in your lips, tongue and genitals. According to my analysis of your astrological potentials, these ultra-sensitive receptors will be turned on extra high in the coming weeks. So will their metaphysical and metaphorical equivalents. That’s why I predict you will gather in more bliss than you have in a long time. Please give yourself permission to exceed your usual quota.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Once upon a time, you were more hazardous to yourself than now. I’m pleased about the progress you’ve made to treat yourself with care and compassion. It hasn’t been easy. You had to learn mysterious secrets about dealing with your inner troublemaker. You had to figure out how to channel its efforts into benevolent and healing trouble. There’s still more work to be done, though. Your inner troublemaker isn’t completely redeemed and reformed. But you now have a chance to bring it more fully into its destined role as your ally and helper.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

I predict that your past will soon transform. You may discover new details about old events. Stories you have told and told about your history will acquire new meanings. You will be wise to reinterpret certain plot twists you thought you had figured out long ago. There may not be anything as radical as uncovering wild secrets about your true origins—although I wouldn’t discount that possibility. So expect a surprise or two, Sagittarius. But I suspect you will ultimately be pleased to revise your theories about how you came to be the resilient soul you are now.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Of all the signs, Capricorns are least likely to consult horoscopes. There are many skeptics among your tribe who say, “Astrology is irrational and illogical. It can’t be precise and accurate, so it’s not even real.” My personal research also suggests, however, that a surprising percentage of Capricorns pretend not to be drawn to astrology even though they actually are. They may even hide their interest from others. How do I feel about all this? It doesn’t affect me as I compose your oracles. I love you as much as the other signs, and I always give you my best effort. Now I suggest that in the coming weeks, you do what I do: Give your utmost in every situation, even if some people are resistant to or doubtful of your contributions. Be confident as you offer your excellence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You are ready to graduate to a higher octave of maturity and wisdom about everything related to love, romance and sex. It will be instructive to meditate on your previous experiences. So I invite you to ruminate on the following questions: 1. What important lessons have you learned about the kind of togetherness you want? 2. What important lessons have you learned about the kind of togetherness you don’t want? 3. What important lessons have you learned about how to keep yourself emotionally healthy while in an intimate relationship?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Are you longing to feel safe, cozy and unperturbable? Are you fantasizing about how perfect life would be if you could seal yourself inside your comfort zone and avoid novelty and change for a while? I hope not, Pisces! By my astrological reckoning, you are due for a phase of experimentation and expansion. You will thrive on the challenges of big riddles and intriguing teases. Please take full advantage of this fun opportunity to hone your intuition and move way beyond random guesswork. For extra credit: Prove the theory that it’s very possible to cultivate and attract good luck.

Automation Engineer (Salt Lake City, UT) Dsgn & implmt Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Human Machine Interface (HMI), & peripheral systems. Resp for configuration of PLC systems, generating I/O d/bases, creating wiring diagrams, & dvlpg HMI graphics. Bachelor’s, Electrical Engg or rltd. 2 yrs’ engg exp, to incl some solid exp in each: Siemens Series (S7-200, S7300, S7-400, S7-1200, S7-1500); Automation Direct (DL05, DL06); SIMATIC WinCC; TIA Portal; C-more; PAC Display; Control Snap PAC; Opto 22; VFDs (ABB, Siemens, Eaton, & Yaskawa); electrical component dsgn & systems specs; eqpmt problem-solving in industrial setting. Limited domestic travel to client sites. MUST follow these specific application instructions in order to be considered: Send CV & cover letter to Laurie.Firmin@champtechnology.com or Laurie Firmin, Champion Technology Services, Inc, 11854 Bricksome Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 w/in 30 days

Need a New Hive?

urban LIVING

ADU for You?

I’m always surprised at how many buyers and sellers don’t know what an accessory dwelling unit is—or ADU—and, on the flip side, surprised at the creativity of those who add them to their properties.

With such a housing crunch in our state, ADUs are a great option to add another dwelling unit to a property, as in a second tiny home on a lot where a home currently stands or an interior unit like a mother-in-law apartment.

An accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use in Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, St. George and most major cities in the state. But there are rules you have to follow to add one to your property no matter where you choose to live.

I heard from a wise old veteran that tens of thousands of troops came through Utah each month during WWII on their way to fight in foreign lands, and that often their loved ones might follow them to the state to spend as much time as they could before the soldiers went to war. We had a housing crisis then, as we do now, and my friend said city officials would knock on homeowners’ doors to see if there was any way a makeshift bedroom or apartment could be squeezed into the home—regardless whether the basement was dirt or the attic unfinished.

Apart from knocking on doors, nowadays homeowners have seen the advantages of adding ADUs because they can be rented out for added income to help make primary mortgage payments or simply to provide housing for friends, family and/or caregivers.

There are several companies now building “tiny homes” that are no bigger than a shed, which can be dropped by crane into a back yard or delivered in kits that can be erected in a day once a foundation is poured—if it’s an exterior unit—or built into your home in a month or two.

There are also ways to attach or add an ADU to an existing property and the state now allows for “interior” ADUs, which would legalize apartments already operating inside homes (aka “mother-in-law” apartments).

According to aduutah.com, standalones can cost between $60,000 and $100,000 to build. And this commercial website, which is owned by a local contractor, can give ideas on how much income an ADU can generate for you (if your city allows them), what the rules might be, financing options and designs, etc.

Etsy has prefab tiny homes starting at $27,000. Dwellito ships prefab homes to Utah, and Stack Homes builds shipping container dwellings you can customize for a home that’s 480 to 960 square feet when finished.

If you think you have spare room in your yard or home for an ADU, start with a simple drawing you do yourself and take it to your local city hall. Talk with a planning and zoning person there, show them your idea and they

about

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across

1. Ludicrous comedy

6. Border

10. Crawled, maybe

14. Nebraska metropolis

15. Grammy winner Celine

16. Facebook company

17. They don’t play their own hits

19. Tricky

20. Outrage

21. Notable person

23. Itinerary word

24. Vietnamese soup sometimes served with tripe

25. Pro wrestling pair

27. Having no restrictions

32. Catty response?

33. Quite capable

34. Use a pen outside

36. Passing notice

39. Time to give up?

40. Oceanic movements

41. ___ helmet

42. Molten stuff

43. Beneficiary

44. Film idol Greta

45. Muppet that’s got beef with a rock

47. Plastic instrument in elementary school music class

49. Manage

52. Faucet label

53. Spheroid

54. Appropriate for middle schoolers, maybe

57. Salt ___

60. Portuguese rivers

62. Personal transport that requires some balance

64. Fireplace grate stuff

65. Neck-and-neck

66. Triangular road sign

67. Head experts, for short

68. Pre-1991 pol. divisions

69. George Jetson’s kid

Down

1. Centers of attention

2. Love, to Luis

3. Dance party

4. Jost’s cohost

5. Eavesdropping range

6. Dutch wheel

7. Get some grub

8. Beckett title character

9. Catches in a trap

10. Three letters of disbelief

11. Finch relative that can build an intricate nest

12. Spacious courtyards

13. ___ Vice President (current title for Kamala Harris)

18. Touch a dog’s snoot

22. Big-headedness

24. Motivating speech

26. Like some long season finales

27. Maze blocker

28. Notion

29. Wheel clamp for parking violators

30. Stephen Colbert’s wife and coauthor of the cookbook “Does This Taste Funny?”

31. Lowest point

35. ___ Noel (Santa Claus, in France)

37. “Who can ___ at this hour?”

38. “The Avengers” character

40. “Any opinions?”

44. Parting word

46. Clear the floor

48. “Moonstruck” Oscar winner

49. Not as great

50. Giant hunter of myth

51. Un + deux

55. Affirm positively

56. “Bill & ___ Excellent Adventure”

57. “The Beverly Hillbillies” star Max

58. Folk singer Guthrie

59. “Electric Avenue” singer Grant

61. Hagiographer’s subjects, for short

63. Coconut product

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.

NEWS of the WEIRD

BY

A Load of Bologna

U.S. Customs and Border Protection shuts down smuggling attempts on a daily basis, but what its officers caught on Sept. 23 at the Presidio, Texas, port of entry wasn’t the usual contraband. While inspecting a vehicle being driven into the U.S., CBP personnel discovered 748 pounds of Mexican bologna. The New York Post reported that 40 rolls of the deli meat were hidden in a number of suitcases throughout the vehicle. CBP Presidio Port Director Benito Reyes Jr. said in a news release that “the concern with pork products is that they have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can have devastating effects to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry.” The driver, an American citizen, was issued a $1,000 civil penalty; the bologna was destroyed per USDA regulations.

Single-Engine Drama

n En route from Nebraska to Oregon on Sept. 21, a single-engine plane made an emergency landing on Highway 25 north of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cowboy State Daily reported. Levi and Kelsi Dutton, who were traveling south on the highway when the plane landed in front of them, offered assistance to the pilot, who identified himself as Steve. The pilot calmly inspected the plane’s fuel line before announcing, “I got the tools right here. I’ll just open it up, figure out what’s going on and get her fixed.” After making the repair, Steve hopped back aboard the plane and, as the Duttons stopped traffic to free up a runway space, taxied south and took off for Cheyenne Regional Airport, where he could do a more thorough inspection.

n Another single-engine plane made news on Sept. 17 when, shortly after taking off from Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina, a door fell off and landed in the yard of a vacant home, WBMF News reported. The pilot and passenger on board were unharmed. Witness Wendy Hodges, who lives next door to the vacant house, hurried home after learning of the incident, and found the intact door in the neighbor’s yard. “It was definitely really lucky that there was no damage or no one was hurt,” said Hodges. “As a matter of fact, there’s a plane flying right now, but I will certainly make sure I start looking up.”

Missed Their Exit?

WSVN-TV in Miami reported on Sept. 21 that an SUV fell from an overpass on I-95, crashing through a fence below and narrowly missing a bystander—and miraculously, both driver and passenger walked away, apparently unscathed. Those nearby rushed to help, including Mariah Lewis, who offered a knife from her glove box to aid in cutting the driver and passenger out of their seatbelts. “It’s just by the grace of God that the people lived, because I don’t understand how you fall from that high and [live],” she said. Both occupants were checked by paramedics, and the driver was taken to a local trauma

center for observation. “It was bad, but it could have been worse,” Lewis said. “I was just telling my daughter I’m so grateful. You’ve got to be grateful for life.”

Awesome!

Reach for the stars, kids! And by “stars,” we mean “wheelbarrow.” John Loghry of Saylorville, Iowa, made his dream come true when he set a new world record— for the fastest motorized wheelbarrow. WeAreIowa.com reported that Loghry’s vehicle reached 57 mph at an event on Sept. 21, beating the previous Guinness World Record of 47 mph. A local sheriff’s office helped Loghry confirm the speed with a lidar gun, as required per Guinness rules. “He’s been very determined on doing it,” said Loghry’s wife, Jeanne. Members of the local community came out to watch the attempt, so Loghry, a veteran, ended up using the event to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. He said he hopes he can inspire others to pursue their dreams, even the wacky ones: “If you think you can do it, try it,” he said.

There Goes the Neighborhood

You can’t take it with you—which means you should be very careful what you leave behind. KSBW-8 reported on Sept. 30 that a real estate agent in Salinas, California, got a real scare when, while preparing the home of a recently deceased man for an estate sale, they discovered a 2.5-foot-long high explosive anti-tank (H.E.A.T.) rocket among the man’s belongings in a closet. As the neighborhood was evacuated to a radius of 500 feet by the Salinas police, a neighbor, Rebecca Rodick, interacted with an officer on scene: “He showed me the X-ray of the missile, which is really wild. He said, ‘See how it’s all dark? That means there’s a lot of stuff in it.’”

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Explosive Ordnance Unit successfully removed the rocket from the residence without incident.

Whatever’s Handy

When a British surgeon couldn’t find a scalpel, the BBC reported on Oct. 1, he reached for the next best thing: the Swiss Army knife he normally uses to slice up fruit for his lunch. The news organization has not identified the surgeon, who was operating on a patient at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton. While the surgery was reportedly an emergency—one the patient survived, thankfully—internal documents indicate that the surgeon’s colleagues found his behavior “questionable” and that they were “very surprised” he was unable to find a more conventional surgical tool. Dr. Graeme Poston, an expert on clinical negligence and a former consultant surgeon, told the BBC: “It surprises me and appalls me. Firstly, a penknife is not sterile. Secondly, it is not an operating instrument. And thirdly, all the kit (must have been) there.”

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com