City Weekly August 6, 2026

HAIL TO THE CHIEF CORRESPONDENT

ABC-TV’s Martha Raddatz on war reporting, her new book and growing up in Salt Lake City.

BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL AND CATHERINE H. CHRISTMAN

S AP

Four-term Trump

In the leadup to his second term, Trump joked that he would be a “dictator on day one.” Nobody is laughing now—he hasn’t stopped dictating since day one.

Today, Trump “jokes” with the press that he might win a “fourth” term of office in 2028. Plenty of things suggest he is serious.

First, he is re-building D.C. in his own image, like lifetime kings did in their capital cities: renovating Dulles; bringing in the military to make the city safe; planning new monuments like the Arc de

Trump and renovating old ones like the Reflecting Pool; hanging huge gravenimage banners of himself from government buildings.

Consider this, Trump is undertaking a billion-dollar East Wing renovation of his residence that won’t be completed until well after 2028.

He is taking more opportunities to show off his “Trump 2028” hat. He is visiting the doctor a lot to try to get ahead of any chronic diseases that might befall him. Hmmm …

KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY Woods Cross

“Dirt

Cheap,” July 30 Cover Story

Ummm, yeah. There used to be smelters there—the Davenport and Flagstaff smelters, full of arsenic and lead. I don’t care how much soil removal they did. Maybe I’m the only weirdo who read Murderland and then looked up all of the Superfund sites in the area.

AMANDA ROMNEY Via Facebook

Look into who sold it to UDOT. Utah is a total sham of corruption disguised in “fine stone.”

HEIDI BUCHMAN COZART Via Facebook

Does anyone do honest deals anymore? There is always deceit and dishonest manipulation when it comes to the taxpayers’ money!

WENDY ANDERSON Via Facebook

“Plot Twist,” July 30 Opinion

Great column, Matt Pacenza. Personally, I don’t think books need to have such graphic sex in them, but that’s just me. I would not foist that on others who apparently see no problem. Does it lead kids to pornography? Don’t know. Anyway, the main problem is, as you point out so well, the lack of reading by kids in particular but by all generally in this scrolling world.

LISA RUTHERFORD Via Facebook

“Down the Drain,” July 23

Cover Story

I find it very odd that Pineview is getting drained to fix a pipe and also data centers are trying to get built in Utah. Why did they not hire some divers that can repair it under water? And where is all this water going? Also the city is now installing water meters in all homes to gauge the amount of water that residents are using?

OSCAR ALVA Salt Lake City

Lol. What businesses rely on the lake?

YUNG_BRIGHAM801 Via Instagram

Is the water going to Great Salt Lake?

SMALLLAKEPOD 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 is a completely useless skill you’re surprisingly good at?

Paula Saltas

I now realize I have zero talents, much less a useless one. All I really know is how to find the slowest checkout line at the grocery store.

Mark Dago

I am easily triggered by words of a song or lines from films. I will randomly burst into song or monologue.

Gavin Dahl

Pretending that I’ve never tried Copper Caputo before when I see Caputo’s offering free samples at the Downtown Farmers Market.

Scott Renshaw

It has served me well for many years to be a 100-word-per-minute typist, but voice recognition might soon make that skill fairly obsolete. It’s still gonna come in handy whenever I get sick and lose my voice.

Katharine Biele

I frankly think all my skills are kind of useless—especially with AI.

Benjamin Wood

I have a very accurate internal clock and sense of direction, which used to be more impressive before we all started carrying GPS computers in our pockets.

OPINION

BY CHRISTOPHER SMART

“Make Alfalfa Great Again”

You’re not gonna believe this, Wilson, but Hannah Freeze—the new Great Salt Lake commissioner tasked with saving the dying inland sea—used to hawk caps emblazoned with “Make Alfalfa Great Again.” Appointed recently by Gov. Spencer “We-Won’t-Let-TheLake-Die” Cox, she sold the hats for $20.

Axios ace Erin Alberty reported that Freeze advertised them on Facebook in August 2024. At that time, she was running the state’s water optimization program for the Utah Department of Agriculture, which has as its mission statement: “To help agricultural producers optimize their water use to create water resiliency in Utah.”

You’re right, Wilson, alfalfa guzzles water faster than a frat house can glug Pabst Blue Ribbon; alfalfa farms suck the precious wet stuff out of the Bear River before it can reach the desiccating Great Salt Lake. And a 2025 study suggested that alfalfa production be reduced by 61% in order to get the lake back to reasonable health.

A spokesman for Freeze said the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner is working to encourage farmers to voluntarily lease water and optimize its use.

That and seven bucks will get you a Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks.

AI Goes Rogue

Look, Wilson, there’s nothing to be worried about. Just because some AI models broke out of their secure “sandbox” and hacked into the internet is no reason to get excited. We know this, because its creators told us so.

The AI models then hacked into an AI site called Hugging Face, which had the information the rogue AI sought. To do this, those AI culprits had to invent techniques that were not known to their creators in order to exploit the systems protecting Hugging Face. Yikes.

Recently, Meta/Facebook produced a video that said AI is just the latest technology and will be great for humans, just like the telephone and television. Once we get used to artificial intelligence running our lives, it will be, like, how did we ever live without this? Right.

The rogue AI models, fortunately, were not trying to cover their tracks, explained Nate Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute. Otherwise, they may have not been discovered to be AWOL.

“[T]his is a warning shot,” he said. “If we keep racing down this path, if we keep making AIs that are smarter and smarter without knowing how to make them follow the instructions we give ...”

Soares is coauthor of the book If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies. But don’t worry, be happy.

COVID-19 Redux—Hang That S.O.B. Fauci

Kentucky inquisitor and U.S. Senator Rand Paul wants the head of Dr. Anthony Fauci, because the retired 85-yearold—who from 1984 to 2022 led National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)—single-handedly invented COVID-19 and spread it around the globe. At least, that’s the essence of Rand Paul’s inquest.

Why else would the Kentucky enforcer drag Fauci before his Committee on Water-Under-The-Bridge for one final tongue lashing?

It wouldn’t be to rewrite the history of Donald Trump’s first term, when the president said, don’t worry, one day COVID will just be gone. Trump also suggested using Clorox as a treatment, along with shining lights inside of afflicted Americans.

Never missing a chance to drive a wedge into the populace, Trump and Sen. Paul politicized from the get-go the pandemic that claimed more than one million American lives. The hearing, of course, was a trap so Rand Paul could gin up a perjury charge against the veteran civil servant, as the Republicans did to Jan. 6 special prosecutor Jack Smith.

But to their chagrin, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, leading the Kentucky truth czar to begin ramping up charges of contempt of Congress. Joseph McCarthy would be proud.

Postscript—That’s gonna just about do it for another futuristic week here at Smart Bomb, where we keep track of Trump’s money laundering so you don’t have to. Capital One Financial closed the Trump Organization’s bank accounts after a review by anti-money-laundering experts. Yes, Wilson, we’re shocked but not surprised.

Trump and his boys are rip-off artists. Trump’s DOJ and acting A.G. Todd Blanche proposed to settle a lawsuit brought by the Trump Organization for $1.8 billion, with the caveat that neither Trump nor his family could ever be audited by the IRS again. Last year, Trump took in $1.4 billion in a crypto scam that was set up for big investors to buy access to the Oval Office.

In total, as a result of his presidency, Trump amassed $2.2 billion last year—that we know of. Trump purchased defense stocks from companies benefiting from his national security agenda. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump invested in more than a dozen defense-tech and AI firms that have or are bidding for juicy federal contracts. There is no end to the corruption, double-dealing and money grubbing that Trump and his family are capable of. But as Trump said: “Nobody seems to care.” CW Christopher Smart writes the weekly “Smart Bomb” column, available online at cityweekly.net.

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele

MISS: Church and State

If you are a longtime Utahn, you probably remember the Deseret News’ Church News, a special edition that came with the newspaper. Now that so much has gone digital, you need a special subscription to get the official LDS word. So it has been up to other news organizations to cover The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in more secular ways. The Salt Lake Tribune has taken this mission to the max and offers up church news that, frankly, most people don’t care about. Remember a front-page story on Mormon underwear changes? This week, the Trib featured a lengthy story about which LDS are the most devout in the world. Another story talked about an LDS graphic novel and another, with wider interest, on Utah County prosecutors not alerting church lawyers if bishops back defendants. LDS author Carol Lynn Pearson got front-page coverage while the death of a well-known Latino businesswoman was relegated to an inside page. Utahns are interested in religion news, but might find more interest in how it affects state and local politics.

MISS: Block the Vote

Confusion and distrust in elections— that’s the hallmark of the Republican effort to cement their political power. Utah is not immune, even though the state has a long history of safe and secure elections, not to mention being a red-state champion on mailed voting since 2012. Enter the Legislature to fix something that’s not broken and solve the problem of low confidence in elections. They have changed the deadline for ballots and are playing with making registration more difficult, including phasing out vote-by-mail. But a big problem has been drop-off ballot boxes, since mailing may not be an option. Fox 13 covered a story about one man’s inconvenience when he had trouble dropping off a ballot at the downtown library because of event traffic. But there are many problems the reporting ignored. Drive-up boxes invite conflict with pedestrians, and are inconvenient for transit riders and the many disabled people who cannot drive. The library also offers free underground parking, requiring only a short walk for those who insist on voting from their car.

HIT: Drip Lines

It’s hard to point to the most pressing water issue facing Utah, what with the Great Salt Lake shrinking and drought persisting. But the Colorado River plan may be one of the most dire because it involves cooperation among seven states—three in the lower basin and four, including Utah, in the upper basin. Local news continues to miss the big picture, especially as the Trump administration comes out with a longawaited 10-year plan that largely misses the mark, partly because it’s a two-year plan that just suggests cuts. Fox 13 has been doing the most comprehensive coverage, but the Washington Post made it clear that the waterway is “teetering on collapse” and that a political standoff is inevitable. And

Lost and Fount

The fountains on Washington Square are not flowing these days—and not because of Utah’s ongoing drought. Typically in operation from Memorial through Labor Day, they are in the midst of a maintenance project to replace old infrastructure.

“Like any water feature, these fountains experience wear from constant water exposure, aging pipes and plumbing, leaves and debris,” a Salt Lake City spokesperson told City Weekly. “People also put coins and other objects in the fountains, which can create additional maintenance issues.”

When in use, the recirculating fountains require daily cleaning and chemistry checks as well as a mid-season power wash. That amounts to a consistent regimen of care, but the results speak for themselves within one of SLC’s most beautiful public spaces. Part of the square’s original 1894 plan, the fountains were of special interest to then-Mayor Robert Baskin (1833-1918), who selected their elegant designs and personally paid for installation.

Upon debut, colored balls bobbed atop the fountains’ jets while water plants and live goldfish occupied the basins. The whole effect was deemed “a marvel” at the time by the Salt Lake Herald. The Tribune added that the fountains combined “all the points of the artistic and the beautiful.”

Humans were not alone in enjoying Washington Square’s water features. In 1907, a granite animal fountain was given to the city by the National Humane Alliance. Primarily for horses, this fountain stood at the northwest corner, falling into neglect until it was donated to the Sons of Utah Pioneers in 1955. It still exists today as a planter at Lagoon’s Pioneer Village.

The fountains on Washington Square likewise experienced years of neglect and abuse. As the Telegram reported of one fountain in 1936, city officials thought it was “a monstrosity of architecture out of accord with modern times” and removed it. The other fountain, meanwhile, survived but often stood dry and a target of vandals.

But then, with the square’s massive restoration project in the 1980s, the fountains returned to life through reproductions. To do this, SLC turned to Alabama’s Robinson Iron, which possessed the original fountain molds.

“My grandfather began acquiring a lot of these patterns as [older] companies went out of business,” reported Luke Robinson, sales and marketing manager for Robinson Iron. “There are a lot of fountains like these across the country, and we do a lot of them.”

The results of such a thorough restoration effort are noticeable to anyone who has visited in recent decades.

“Water features like fountains, if well kept, have the merit of showing that we care about our public spaces,” observed Alessandro Rigolon, a professor at the University of Utah. “They can promote a sense of pride and attachment to a public space.”

Fostering pride, attachment and beauty in urban planning is hard work. But whether the function is wet or dry, what a contrast such values make! CW

BY WES LONG

Jocks & Jokes

With Ted Lasso back, here are a few more sports comedies to check out before summer’s end.

BY BILL FROST comments@cityweekly.net

Three years after we said our tearful goodbyes to Ted Lasso, the Apple TV soccer comedy returns for an unexpected fourth season on Aug. 5, with Jason Sudeikis as the titular Ted and most of the original cast intact. Ted Lasso may be the universal example of a sports comedy that gets the jock/jokes balance right, but it’s not the only one. Here are a few more worth a stream before the summer’s gone.

The Hawk (2026; Netflix): TV critics hated The Hawk when it premiered in July, but who listens to them? It’s true that this wacky AF saga of washed-up pro golfer Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins (Will Ferrell) on the PGA comeback trail doesn’t recapture the gonzo magic of his mid-2000s movies, but The Hawk still tees up plenty of laughs—mostly from Molly Shannon as Lonnie’s estranged and prolifically foulmouthed wife. The Hawk may not get a second season, but there’s an objectively better golf comedy that will … Stick (2025–present; Apple TV): Pryce “The Stick” Cahill (Owen Wilson) isn’t out to reclaim former links glory like chinbearded narcissist Lonnie Hawkins; he’s back in the golf game to mentor a young talent (Peter Dager) who could become the Next Big Thing. Stick rides inside the same heartfelt sports comedy groove as Ted Lasso, with the added comic firepower of Marc Maron as Pryce’s cranky-but-correct voice of reason. It’s just a coincidence that Owen’s brother Luke costars in The Hawk, right? GLOW (2017–2019; Netflix): Based on the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling league and TV series of the ’80s, GLOW is an alter-

nately silly and serious depiction of hardscrabble indie pro wrestling, female bonding among outsiders, and retina-burning neon period fashion. The excellent ensemble cast (led by Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin and—here he is again—Marc Maron) shines over the course of three seasons; too bad Netflix denied them a fourth and final run to wrap the series properly. Oh, and pro wrestling is real. Ballers (2015–2019; HBO Max): Anybody remember Young Rock? Didn’t think so. It wasn’t the first TV series from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: Football dramedy Ballers ran for five critically-acclaimed seasons before it departed. The series hinges on the fizzy chemistry between Johnson and Rob Corddry as semi-competent sports managers, the kind of seamless character interplay that Johnson has rarely established in any of his movies. Ballers deserves a more worthy nickname than “NFL Entourage.”

The League (2009–2015; Hulu): Any list of debated “you couldn’t make that today”

TV shows will usually include raunchy sports-adjacent comedy The League, one of the all-time FX greats alongside It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The series is about a fantasy football league, but it’s really just bros brutally (and hysterically) tearing each other down through mostly improvised trash talk. Co-stars Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas should absolutely dissect The League on their How Did This Get Made? podcast.

A League of Their Own (2022; Prime Video): Broad City alum Abbi Jacobson’s A League of Their Own is less of a remake of the 1992 movie than a complete reinvention, with a more diverse cast and a forthright feminist attitude. The 1940sset comedy about an all-women’s baseball league is fresh, fabulous and, unfortunately, only one season and eight episodes long, thanks to the fickle whims of Prime Video and the 2023 writers’ strike (which also cost us How I Met Your Father—no real loss there).

Shoresy (2022–present; Hulu): His face

was never seen on Letterkenny, but that all changed when hockey hooligan Shoresy (Jared Keeso) was spun off into his own series in 2022. Shoresy shares some altcomedy DNA with Letterkenny, but this hilariously verbose chronicle of the seniorleague Sudbury Bulldogs’ rocky rise is its own gap-toothed beast—but with an actual plot (all due apologies to Letterkenny). Shoresy’s seasons top out at six episodes, making for a fast and funny watch best enjoyed in wintertime.

Eastbound & Down (2009–2013; HBO Max): Should The Hawk score a second season, Will Ferrell would do well to adopt wildcard baseball pitcher Kenny Powers as his spirit animal. Danny McBride has played many a dim blowhard over the years (most impressively as the patriarch of The Righteous Gemstones), but Eastbound & Down established his Kenny “Effin” Powers character as the MVP of coarse, gofor-broke comedy. More than just a sports comedy, Eastbound & Down is pure, uncut redneck redemption (pre-J6, that is). CW

Will Ferrell in The Hawk

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT PICKS,

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

AUGUST 6 - 12, 2026

Craft Lake City DIY Festival

If there’s one good thing that has come from the age of AI, it’s a growing sensitivity to what it really means to be a “creator.” Real creation—whether the goal is a song, a scarf, a painting or a batch of cookies—takes effort, care and feeling, and it’s even harder when you’re an independent creator. That’s one reason why Craft Lake City has been such a wonderful part of our community for two decades, and why it’s so great when the annual DIY Festival comes back around to showcase those who put their heart and soul into the work they put out into the world.

The 18th DIY Festival offers three days of that showcase, this year featuring more than 500 purveyors of everything from crafts and clothing to personal care products and STEM creations. Visitors can enjoy great local food from vendor booths and food trucks, as well as offerings from local breweries and distilleries. Check out the Kid Row to support vendor/creators under 18, bring your four-legged friend to enjoy the Dog Park (ticket required), learn from DIY demonstrations, catch the participants in the Mountain West Showcase indie gaming creator competition and enjoy three stages of live entertainment from local bands and dance groups throughout the day.

The 2026 Craft Lake City DIY Festival presented by Harmons comes to the Utah State Fairpark (155 N. 1000 West) on Friday, Aug. 7 (5 – 10 p.m.), Saturday, Aug. 8 (noon – 10 p.m.) and Sunday, Aug. 9 (noon – 6 p.m.). Single-day tickets are $14.63 including fees, $5.75 for dog tickets. Visit craftlakecity.com/diy-festival to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

Utah African Festival

When Newton Gborway—president of United Africans of Utah—first came to Utah from Liberia more than 25 years ago to study at the University of Utah, it was not an easy time to be an African immigrant here. “When I came to Utah, there was not a lot of diversity,” he recalls. “People would ask me, ‘Do you have houses in Africa? Do you have cars in Africa?’ … There are different resources now for people, but before that, there were a lot of challenges for [African immigrants], to find someone to speak the language. … If you have a child in school, for a parent-teacher conference, can you find someone to interpret for you?”

Providing support for African immigrants and refugees has been a focus for United Africans of Utah since its founding in 2004, and sharing African cultures with the wider Utah community has been a focus since 2016 of the Utah African Festival. This 10th-anniversary event presents performances by local groups, vendors selling African clothing, and plenty of unique food.

Gborway says the diversity of attendees has grown every year, making it a chance for people to change misconceptions. “There are some people, their own explanations of Africa can make people scared: ‘Oh, they eat this kind of food, they live this kind of way.’ They come here, and learn that what they thought a few days ago isn’t correct.”

The 2026 Utah African Festival comes to Liberty Park (600 Harvey Milk Blvd.) on Saturday, Aug. 8, noon – 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Visit theuau. org for additional information. (SR)

COURTESY

EVENTS IN DRAPER, UT

Gates: 7:00 PM Show: 8:00 PM www.DraperUtah.gov/Amphitheater

CANYON HALF MARATHON, 5K & 10K REGISTER BY AUGUST 20,2026 TO RECEIVE A SHIRT

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 @ 7AM

Challenge yourself with a run through beautiful Corner Canyon

More info at www.DraperUtah.gov/Half

SB Dance: Curbside Theater

In the six years since SB Dance launched Curbside Theater as a COVID-era adaptation of necessity, choreographer Stephen Brown has learned a few things about the unique circumstances of performing free outdoor pop-up shows—but one of the most important is about how people experience it. “There are a lot of technical artistic things I’ve learned,” Brown says, “but probably the most important thing is, there’s a different expectation from the audience. It’s very much theirs to enjoy the way they want to. Some people follow us, they come to their favorite show every year. They’re like our Deadheads. But others are just wandering by, and stop and think, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’ … Personally, I do it because it’s really interesting, and I have more control over what I do. I own the means of my production. What I’m doing here is more like Substack, rather than going through a publisher.”

For 2026, there’s a new production, titled Doing Our Beast, which Brown describes as “set in a dreamland animal menagerie. I just wanted to do sort of a fun carnival sideshow this year, and the format sort of lends itself to that. We’re right in front of people, it’s in open spaces; it’s kind of a carnival atmosphere to begin with.”

The 2026 Curbside Theater season begins Saturday, Aug. 8 at Pinnacle Performance (1515 S. 1100 East) at 8:30 p.m., with additional performances through October at various Utah locations. Performances are free to the public, with donations encouraged; visit curbsidetheater.sbdance.com for full schedule and additional information, including circumstances for weather cancellation. (SR)

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Cookies & Cream

Two very different kid-centered stories, plus the tale of Flaco the owl.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net

Cookie Queens BBB 1/2

Director Alysa Nahmias’ formula here is like 85% adorableness and 15% other stuff, but oh man does she nail the adorableness. Her subject is the $800 million annual business that is the selling of Girl Scout cookies, focusing on four girls from around the country trying to hit their goals during the several-weeks-long annual selling window. Much of the focus is on 12-year-old Olive, a cookie-shilling wunderkind whose skills at upselling seem to dazzle all her customers into additional purchases, and there are layers to her character in her growing consciousness about being an exploited worker as well as the perils of pinning her entire identity on being an ace salesperson. And Nahmias definitely doesn’t shy away from the pressures on parents— who need to pre-purchase their kids’ inventory— trying to be supportive through rainy or otherwise unsuccessful sales days. But it’s really clear that the filmmaker had great instincts for picking her subjects for their potential appeal to audiences, including Nikki, whose ambitions are tied entirely to emulating her older sisters, and 5-year-old Ara, a first-timer whose innocence has her interpreting one woman’s “maybe later” response to a sales pitch as an assurance that she’ll be coming back soon. There are even some really inspired bits of visual filmmaking, like watching Ara struggle with pulling her wagon of cookies across the sand on a San Diego beach. The result is a documentary as sweet and easy to enjoy as a box of Thin Mints. Available Aug. 7 in theaters. (G)

Ice Cream Man BBB

In the age of “elevated horror,” we need a term for the stuff that’s just gleefully gross—maybe “basement horror?”—like the latest high-concept mayhem from co-writer/director Eli Roth. In the picturesque town of Bayleen Bay, the arrival of summer is accompanied by the arrival of a mysterious ice cream man (Ari Millen), whose frozen

treats turn any child who eats them into a homicidal monster, leaving lactose-intolerant Jared (Charlie Zeltzer) among the few kids unaffected. What follows combines a bit of Weapons, a bit of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and—in one particularly amusing set piece—a bit of The Birds for something that gets nearly all of its juice out of graphic depictions of children committing creative murder with whatever object is at hand, including the ice cream man’s preferred weapon of a combo ice cream scoop/bone saw. And it’s kind of outrageously fun in its over-the-top-ness, most notably in an extended playground sequence that finds the possessed youngsters turning a head into a tetherball, jumping rope with an intestine, etc. Eventually there’s a long expository scene that explains the origin of our monster, and it’s kinda forced in its attempt at a lesson about scapegoating, even if the instructions for ending the threat get hilariously complicated. Think of it as a kind of spiritual successor to morality-play creep-outs like Tales from the Crypt—just don’t call it “elevated.” Available Aug. 7 in theaters. (NR)

Wild Inside BBB

Documentarian Penny Lane has often explored quirkier subjects like Satanists and “Sea Monkeys,” so she might not intuitively seem like the ideal fit for telling the story of Flaco, the 13-year-old Eurasian eagle-owl that escaped from New York’s Central Park Zoo in early 2023 and immediately captured the imagination of the city’s residents. Yet she shows a wonderfully deft touch as she follows the Flaco saga, told through characters like animal researchers, bird rescue workers and the birdingenthusiast photographers who become a kind of Flaco-razzi following the bird’s every move. What emerges is a fascinating study of the way animals can become a kind of screen onto which humans project their own feelings, whether that involves the question of whether Flaco was better off in captivity than he was in the wild, or even feeling sympathy for the non-native-species’ futile mating behavior because “dating is hard in New York for everyone.” Along the way, Lane is wise enough to take time simply to observe Flaco and other creatures in Central Park, allowing them to be the star in a way that understands how encounters with wild nature can be spiritual moments for people. Inevitably some of the anecdotes from people about their experiences with Flaco become repetitive, but even then, it’s a way to show that the story of Flaco is really the story of what we decide to make of his life. Available Aug. 7 at Broadway Centre Cinemas. (NR)

Cookie Queens

Ice Cream Man

Hail to the Chief Correspondent

ABC-TV’s Martha Raddatz on war reporting, her new book and growing up in Salt Lake City.

BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL AND CATHERINE H. CHRISTMAN comments@cityweekly.net

Martha Raddatz has covered war zones around the world, and being situationally aware has been of utmost importance to her well-being. But an inner compass has also guided Raddatz from her school days at Salt Lake City’s East High to her role as chief global affairs correspondent for ABC.

These days, Raddatz, 73, says that she has an additional quest—bringing Americans’ attention to a group of all-too-often anonymous men and women, via her New York Times bestseller, The Hero Next Door.

“There is no sure way to spot a hero,” she writes in the book. In fact, she poses the direct question, “Who does deserve to be called a hero?”

To help answer, she’s spoken to dozens of American generals and battlefield commanders over the years, as well as hundreds of soldiers and Marines.

In her book (published in May), Raddatz describes how she has stayed in touch with a lot of those people as the years have passed. Some of them have very serious PTSD, while others are Gold Star families.

Raddatz is passionate in her belief that the public needs to know that the effect of war—whatever war a person fought in, be it Iraq or Afghanistan—is still impacting the lives of military service members.

In a recent phone interview with City Weekly, she talked about her book and these heroes with warmth and enthusiasm, even as she switched topics effortlessly. Raddatz, who’s won numerous Emmy Awards, was candid as she shared how she felt like a bit of an “outlier” while growing up in Salt Lake City, in part because her family wasn’t Mormon. But on reflection, and looking back now, she thinks she had been “looking for my inner East Coast” in those days.

That disclosure was followed by hearty chuckling, as she said she grew up thinking “sinners are out there somewhere, and I’m going to find them.”

“And I moved to Boston and found them,” she said, referencing the city where she worked at a local ABC television station.

Heroism in Many Forms

So, who are these heroes that Raddatz both writes about and wants her readers to join in celebrating? They’re trailblazers like Rosemary Mariner—a Navy attack pilot whose achievements include being the first woman assigned to an aircraft carrier, helping to remove the barrier blocking women from flying combat missions and being assigned to ships at sea.

Then there’s Mark Little, whose heroic story and ensuing love-at-first-sight romance have the buoyant, hopeful tension of a heartfelt Hallmark Channel offering—only this was real life.

Not only did Little survive an explosion where a massive projectile ripped through his vehicle’s armor, resulting in the loss of both legs, but he then rallied, spurred on by a persistent friend playing Cupid, met the love of his life and, in the absence of an engagement ring, fashioned a paper clip substitute only hours after he met Alicia Gheesling.

Or there’s those people who serve on the home front, like Debbie Schulz and Gail Ulerie, two moms whose sons were grievously injured in battle.

Schulz’s son Steven was wheelchair bound, partially blind and significantly brain-damaged after sustaining injuries during military service. In her book, Raddatz movingly describes how Schulz trained herself to take naps and replenish her strength while her son slept, just as she had when he was a baby—only now her baby was 21 and almost six feet tall.

“My mom is my guardian angel,” Steven Shulz says at one point in Raddatz’s book. “Her strength helped me get through what I couldn’t. They told her she should probably put me in a nursing home for the rest of my life. She said, ‘Not my son.’ She is my inspiration. I tell her I love her every day.”

The Marines told Ulerie that a blast had broken her son Shurvon’s leg and several ribs. Only later on did she find out the true severity of his injuries, ones that would irrevocably change her son’s life, and hers as well.

“These women are the heroes in their sons’ stories,” Raddatz wrote. “Their mothers were the key to Steven surviving and thriving and Shurvon living the best life he could.”

Here, There and Everywhere

Turning back to Salt Lake City, Raddatz says that she still has family living here, including her sister, and she keeps up with friends from East High, even meeting with them all over the country whenever possible.

“I don’t get back that often. But it is my hometown, no question,” Raddatz said. “Culturally, it’s clearly changed. I think

“There’s no sure way to spot a hero,” Raddatz writes in her new book, The Hero Next Door.

Raddatz has covered war zones around the world, interviewing generals, soldiers and their families.

Raddatz attended East High School and still keeps in touch with her former classmates.

it’s turned from a small town to a vibrant, important city.”

And what advice would Raddatz give to any young, aspiring journalist at East High nowadays? Her answer is immediate.

“Look at why you want to be a journalist,” she said. “And I will pound home the reason I am— which is finding answers to questions, curiosity and a responsibility not just to write and report but try to go and see for yourself.”

Raddatz agreed that in a period that many people in the country see as a dark time, her book offers a beacon of hope. She said that no matter what a person thinks about America’s wars, they can join together in admiration for the people who volunteered to serve and make the country a safer place.

“That’s what I want to do in a country that’s divided,” she said. “I think that is a place where we can come together, forget the divide in our country, and admire the people who do so and admire the people who support them.”

With her grueling schedule, how did she ever manage to write a book?

“It’s the second book I’ve written, and the first one was 20 years ago. It’s really, really hard,” she admits. “I would finish my day’s work and then [write] at night or on the weekends when I wasn’t working.”

Because of that, she admits that she’s assured her husband Tom Gjelten that she’ll never do it again. But then a nanosecond later, with a laugh of acknowledgment at what she’s about to say, she divulges, “I told my book agent yesterday … I have another idea.”

And with that she’s off—only to appear live on ABC, four days later, reporting from Jordan. CW

Giddy Up

Utah

celebrates Pioneer Day

in style at Days of ‘47 Rodeo.

BY GRACE X. MAYA COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

In a year of dampened celebrations following a statewide ban on personal fireworks, many Utahns spent the state’s signature holiday at the Utah State Fairpark. The nearly week-long Days of ‘47 rodeo culminated on Saturday, July 25, but Friday’s Pioneer Day events proved the most popular day for attendees.

Visitors packed the fairpark stadium to cheer for the roughly 400 competitors across various horseback and steer wrestling events. For demonstrators and competitors alike, the rodeo served as a chance to show off cowboy culture.

Jackie Jensen attended the rodeo with her organization, Federación Mexicana De Charrería. She, along with her mother and daughter, performed in escaramuza charra, a female dressage-style event popular in Mexican rodeo. “We’re here to represent that and show people what we do in our culture,” Jensen said. “It’s nice to show people what we do, especially because everyone’s super nice and respectful. It’s been awesome.”

Her organization is based in El Paso, Texas, but travels to compete and to meet up with members in Salt Lake City.

Riding side-saddle, Jensen appeared in the rodeo’s opening ceremonies along with members of Utah’s indigenous tribes, descendants of the original 1847 Latter-day Saint pioneers and U.S. special forces Army rangers. Country singer Nathan

The Days of ‘47 Rodeo culminated on July 25. The

Jackie Jensen performs escaramuza charra.

Osmond sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the full stadium.

While Friday’s festivities pulled the largest crowds, the multi-day rodeo itself served as an important step for professional riders to improve their world-rankings and to take home significant winnings, Days of ‘47 spokesperson Ann Bleiker explained. Participants competed for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as a share of roughly $750,000 in combined prizes.

Of course, the majority of attendees came to experience not just the rodeo events, but the party atmosphere outside the stadium. The event’s Fun Zone included food trucks, pony rides and live music. Pioneer pride came through loud and clear as the band sang modified renditions of “Sweet Caroline” and “Achy Breaky Heart” to include Utahspecific references.

For Salt Lake County resident Jackson Bell, the event was an obvious choice to celebrate the Mormon pioneers’ arrival to Utah 179 years ago.

“It’s just the thing to do,” Bell said. “Without fireworks anywhere else, I’d rather come here.”

The Utah Fairgrounds hosted one of the city’s only sanctioned fireworks displays following the rodeo’s conclusion, reflecting temporary restrictions after high-profile wildfires near the University of Utah (and throughout the state) threatened homes earlier this summer. Fortunately, the ban contributed to a safe day of celebrations, with no fires reported in Salt Lake City.

For Bell, Pioneer Day was more than just a celebration of Utah’s religious heritage. It was an important chance to spend time with loved ones.

“I think it just gives people a break from the busy summer to come together as families and friends and just celebrate,” Bell remarked.

Zoe Dicken, an oral surgeon from the Salt Lake suburbs, concurred: “Get out and celebrate!” CW

Roughly $750,000 in prizes were awarded.

Paradise in Eden

Enjoying a getaway weekend in the Ogden Valley town.

BY AIMEE L. COOK comments@cityweekly.net

Some weekends call for spa robes and room service. Others call for craft cocktails, mountain views and your friends laughing so hard you forget to check your phone. If you’re planning the second kind, pack a bag for Eden, Utah. Tucked into the Ogden Valley, this little mountain town has a lot to offer and makes for a perfect weekend getaway.

The weekend started with “girl dinner,” which is a counter full of snacks, bubbles and local Meredith Marks’ caviar. I brought the 24 Karat Kaluga and Diamond Ossetra to try for the first time. The overall consensus was they were good, creamy and not salty.

Mad Moose Café: Lunch out the next day was Mad Moose Café (madmoosecafe. com), perhaps the coziest spot in Eden. This place has serious local charm—laidback vibes, staff who greet you like old friends and a menu that includes burgers, sandwiches and salads.

We tried something from each menu category: a hamburger, a pastrami sandwich and a strawberry spinach salad. I went for the fried chicken sandwich, which I think was a special that day, and it was an interesting variation. The sandwich reminded me of a chicken fried steak patty, but very seasoned. The bun was topped with a spicy mango habanero sauce and you knew it was there. A free cookie comes with every order, which is a sweet bonus and the perfect capper.

Mad Moose Café is that special kind of place that slows one down in the best possible way.

DINE

Craft Spirits at New World Distillery: After fueling up at Mad Moose, we made our way to New World Distillery (newworlddistillery.com), as local food and beverage writer Heather King set this up for us. Owned and operated by husbandand-wife team Chris and Ashley Cross, New World sits against a backdrop of rolling hills, and the moment you walk in, you feel the passion behind every bottle.

The tour is a must. For just $20 (tasting included), you’ll understand how they turn simple ingredients into awardwinning spirits, from their smooth agave to their signature gin and vodka. Chris walked us through the whole process with the kind of warmth that makes one feel like a regular, not a first-timer.

Then comes the tasting. We sipped, we swirled, we smelled. Each pour tells a story, and by the end, we all had a favorite. Pro tip: grab a bottle to take home. I grabbed the Oomaw Gin and Wasatch Blossom Utah Tart Cherry Liqueur.

“I’ve been a long-time fanatic of New World Distillery’s gin and recently fallen in love with their Wasatch Blossom Utah tart cherry liqueur,” King said. “I was so excited to finally meet owner and distiller Chris in person, as he gave us an hourlong tour and shared insights about most of their spirits. Even as a fairly educated spirits drinker, I learned a number of new and interesting facts, and Chris’ passion for his craft is so delightful to be around. Best of all, you can buy all of their spirits directly from the beautiful distillery.”

Scenic Brunch at Snowbasin Resort: We saved the best for day three, and wow, what a way to spend it! Mountain-top brunch at Snowbasin Resort (snowbasin. com), offered on Sundays, is an experience you won’t soon forget. Brunch tickets are $84, and include premium parking, a gondola ride, an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch and entrance into the concert series.

Not a bad deal.

To reach the incredible brunch at Needles Lodge, you ride the gondola up the mountainside, and that experience alone was worth the trip (complete with a dance party as we rode, thanks to a creative friend). With panoramic views of the sprawling valley, Needles Lodge sits at 8,700 feet above sea level. It felt like a peaceful escape, setting the perfect tone for the culinary delights that awaited us at the top.

Grab a plate and head to the carving station for prime rib, or venture to the other side of the dining room for additional savory items like salmon, mac and cheese and roasted vegetables. If you are feeling more like breakfast, hop into the other line, which is filled with biscuits and gravy, bacon and fingerling potatoes. Save room for dessert; there are many delicious options, including macarons, chocolate-dipped strawberries and spice cake, just to name a few favorites.

The food is elevated but not fussy, with fresh, seasonal dishes that taste as good as the setting looks. We toasted to the weekend over mimosa flights and margaritas, and agreed this was the perfect dining finish—crisp mountain air, great food and zero rush.

Good Vibes at Blues and Brews: As the afternoon rolled on, the energy shifted to something festive. The Blues and Brews summer concert series is where Eden really comes alive. Taking place on Saturdays and Sundays, noon - 6 p.m., this is Snowbasin’s signature summer concert series through August. Live music, beer from local breweries and food vendors are all on site, making it a great way to spend the rest of the day. We found a spot on the grass, kicked off our shoes and let the music take over. The lineup mixes soulful blues with feel-good tunes.

This was a great end to a fun weekend with friends, but you could just as easily drive up for the day. Pack a few chairs, a blanket and your favorite people. CW

The brunch at Needles Lodge

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale

2RowBrewing.com

Canned: Pie-oneer AleCherry pie sour

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Drop TopEnglish summer ale (collab with Salt Flats)

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap: Pink BootsPink Pony Pilz

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

NEW Releases: Kölsch, Dusseldorfer “Alt” Bier

Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele

BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street, SLC chappell.beer

On Tap: Pie HoleStrawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap: Edge’s Special Bitter ESB

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Pie & Beer Day Cherry Pie Ale

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey EttaPlaceCider.com

On Tap: Orange Creamsicle 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

In a Can: Extra Pale Ale

Heber Valley Brewing

501 N. Main Street, Heber City hebervalleybrewing.com

Freshly Canned: Electric Avenue - Double IPA 8% ABV

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper helperbeer.com

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

On Tap: Solstice Lager

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)

Kiitos Brewing Sugar House

1533 S. 1100 East, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Nitro Sinday Pale Ale

Level Crossing Brewing, POST 550 South 300 West, Suite 100, SLC LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Helles Munich Pale Lager

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  “Big Drop” West Coast Pilsner

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

On Tap: Island Orchard Punch (Strawberry and peach cider)

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

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

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

Park City Brewing 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com On Tap: Smooth OperatorCream Ale on Nitro

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

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

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

On Tap: Concerning Hops - West Coast IPA

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

On Tap: Concerning HopsWest Coast IPA

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

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West

RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Grand Bavaria

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: Bramble Brown

Roosters Brewing

Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Hibiscus Sour

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, SLC SaltFireBrewing.com

On Tap/Canned: Monachus Adriatic Pilsner 5%

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

On Tap: OPEN ROAD SERIES #3 - Barrel Aged Grand Cru

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

On Tap: Koala Shorts 6.3% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek secondsummitcider.com

On Tap: Honeycrisp Single Varietal

Shades Brewing 1388 S. 300 West, SLC ShadesBrewing.beer New Batch: Raspberry Pistachio Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street, SLC Shadesonstate.com On Tap: Six Wheat Under Hefeweizen

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

Squatters Brew Pub

Sugar House 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC squatterspubs.com

On Tap:  Salt Lake Brewing Co. Big U Pilsner

Squatters Brew Pub West Valley

3555 Constitution Blvd, West Valley City squatterspubs.com

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Acapulco Gold Mexican Lager

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC squatterspubs.com

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Emigration Amber Ale

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

On Tap: “Virgil the Guide” (Italian Pilsner); “Smiles und Sunshine” (German Leichtes Weizen)

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville

596 S 1750 W, Springville StrapTankBrewery.com

On Tap: “Orange Hopsicle” Hazy Pale; “Trouble” American Sour with Mango and Passionfruit

TF Brewing

936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Twelve taps and high point cans available.

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

On Tap: Helles This?! (Helles lager); Punchline pilsner (Classic German Pils)

Thieves Guild Cidery 117 W. 900 South, SLC thievesguildcidery.com

On Tap: Scorching RaySweet pepper cider with a beam of habanero spice | 6.5%

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

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG

2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com

On Tap: Bar Down IPA

Vernal Brewing

55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

Special Series Beers

These items are only limited in numbers, not flavor.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net

Uinta - Test Phaze (Lab Sequence 006): The latest hazy IPA from Uinta proves that not every New England IPA has to be soft and juice-forward from start to finish. At 8% ABV, this double dry-hopped offering leans into a more assertive hop profile while still delivering plenty of the tropical character that fans expect from the style.

The aroma is inviting, opening with a vibrant fruit cocktail of ripe peach, fresh tangerine and juicy guava. There’s also a subtle hint of black currant lingering in the background, adding just enough depth and complexity to keep your nose coming back for another sniff. It’s bright, expressive and incredibly fresh.

The first sip follows through on those aromatic promises. Peach takes the lead before citrusy tangerine sweeps across the palate, while guava provides a smooth tropical backbone. That touch of currant adds an earthy berry nuance that keeps the sweetness in check without distracting from the overall fruitforward presentation.

Where this beer separates itself from many modern “hazies” is in its finish. The double dry-hopping doesn’t simply provide aroma—it delivers a lingering hop bite that sticks around just long enough to remind you this is still an IPA. The bitterness isn’t harsh, but it’s noticeably more pronounced than what many NEIPA drinkers have come to expect over the past few years. That also means the haze purists may find this one a bit too hop-forward for their liking. If you’re searching for a pillowy, low-bitterness juice bomb, this may push beyond your comfort zone. But for drinkers who appreciate a hazy IPA that remembers its West Coast cousins, the balance works remarkably well.

Verdict: This is a fairly drinkable beer with bold fruit, confident hopping and a satisfying finish coming together in a package that is, quite simply, pretty

damn tasty. This is one hazy that’s happy to blur the stylistic lines—and it’s better for it.

Bewilder - Brew-Lab (Early Aughts IPA): Every once in a while, an IPA comes along that feels like a time machine. This one is unapologetically old-school, taking me straight back to the early aughts when American IPAs weren’t trying to taste like fruit smoothies. Instead, they proudly showcased hefty malt bills, assertive bitterness and those unmistakable pine-and-citrus hop combinations that helped define an entire generation of craft beer.

The aroma sets the tone. Rather than exploding with tropical fruit, it greets one with a wonderfully resinous pine nose that hints at the experience to come. It’s nostalgic in the best possible way, recalling the days when walking into a brewery meant catching the scent of fresh pine needles and grapefruit zest wafting through the taproom.

Then comes that first sip—and wow, there’s flavor in this beer! A rich, chewy malt backbone provides the foundation, delivering a satisfying sweetness and body that many modern IPAs seem to have forgotten. It’s not caramel-heavy or cloying, but substantial enough to stand toe-to-toe with the hops instead of simply getting out of their way. Those classic American hops bring waves of pine resin and bright citrus across the palate. Neither element dominates the other, creating the kind of balance that made this style famous to begin with.

The mouthfeel is smooth and pleasantly full, giving each sip a comforting weight that encourages one to slow down and appreciate every layer. The finish delivers exactly what an old-school IPA should: a lingering hop bitterness that hangs around just long enough to prepare you for another drink. It’s firm without becoming abrasive, reminding you that bitterness was once celebrated as a defining feature rather than something to be hidden.

Verdict: It’s refreshing to taste an American IPA that embraces its roots instead of chasing trends. This beer is a love letter to the classics and a reminder of why so many of us fell in love with American IPAs in the first place. Sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.

Of course, please chase these beers from their individual brewery sources. As always, cheers! CW

BEER NERD Protect Your Loved Ones

the BACK BURNER

By Aimee L. Cook

Reserve by Tyler Stokes Launches

If you haven’t yet heard of Reserve by Tyler Stokes [formerly of Provisions], now’s a great time to get acquainted. This intimate dining experience offers five crafted courses in a single, exclusive seating— $100 per person. August dates have just been announced, so mark your calendars for the 8th, 15th, 21st and 29th. July’s menu gave us a glimpse of what Tyler is envisioning: Kampachi, sungold tomatoes and a lavender duck breast. If those flavors are any indication of what’s to come, August is shaping up to be something really special. Keep in mind that reservations are limited and required. All dinners are held at Sunday School, so round up your favorite people and make a night of it. slcprovisions.com

New Utah Cheeseburger Burrito, with Fry Sauce

Cafe Rio recently added something new to Utah’s food scene, and it’s a nod to one of the state’s most beloved condiments: fry sauce. The Utah Handheld Burrito is a Utah-exclusive, limited-time item that brings together seasoned ground beef, pickled pico de gallo, chili-lime fries, a secret burger sauce, a blend of cheeses and lettuce wrapped in a from-scratch tortilla, with Cafe Rio’s own take on fry sauce on the side. Priced under $10, the burrito is available now at Cafe Rio locations across Utah for a limited time. The Utah Burrito also highlights Cafe Rio’s newer handheld burrito format, now a permanent menu option across all locations. “The best burger in Utah is now a burrito, and that’s exactly the kind of unexpected, craveable innovation we’re bringing to Cafe Rio,” said Mike Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Cafe Rio. “Sauce isn’t just a side at Cafe Rio, it’s part of our DNA, and we’ve built our reputation on bold flavors, so when we decided to take on Utah’s beloved Fry Sauce, we knew we had to do it our way.” caferio.com

Weekend Brunch, Dinner and Show at Asher Adams

Asher Adams is shaking things up this summer with two outdoor dining experiences: Brunch at The Courtyard and the Chef’s Summer Series . Together, they’re turning The Courtyard into one of downtown Salt Lake City’s hottest spots to eat, drink and soak up the season! Brunch at The Courtyard runs 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on weekends; this al fresco extension of The Bar at Asher Adams serves up seasonal produce, creative egg dishes and elevated bites. In partnership with Chandon, guests can also look forward to a roaming mimosa cart, specialty cocktails, fresh juices, and coffee. Then there’s the Chef’s Summer Series—a weekly Friday night dining event running from Aug. 7 – Sep. 4. Each week brings a new menu featuring an entrée, side, and dessert, all inspired by summer traditions and seasonal ingredients. Entrées are cooked right in front of you on the Blackstone and charcoal grill, giving guests a chance to chat with the chefs while enjoying live music. It’s dinner and a show. asheradamshotel.com

Vote for us!

A traveling mini beer festival series hosted at local taprooms featuring unique themes, guest breweries, craft beer and cider samples, and curated entertainment

UPCOMING EVENTS

WILD WEST STOP

Wanted: Beer Lovers

August 29, 1-6pm

HOST BREWERIES:

2 Row Brewing, WolfDog Brewing

GUEST BREWERIES: Chappell Brewing, Bewilder Brewing, Becker Brewing, Squatters/ Wasatch Brewery, Second Summit Cider, Moab Brewing and more TBA!

ENTERTAINMENT:

Live Music, Local Vendors, lasso games and more!

WOODSTOCK STOP

Peace,

Love & Pours

September 5, 4-9pm

HOST: The Backyard at Ogden’s Own Distillery

GUEST BREWERIES: Talisman Brewing, Ogden Beer Company, Moab Brewing, UTOG and Roosters Brewing

ENTERTAINMENT:

Live music, aerial performers, local vendors, tie-dye station and more!

Seeking Sanctuary

Evanescence

delivers a one-of-a-kind show on their Utah tour stop.

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net

Being an Evanescence fan in the 2000s was a little tough. The band had a habit of dropping an album and then kind of disappearing for a while, leaving you wondering when they’d pop up again. Creative differences and band member changes were a factor in the long spans of time between tours and new music. There were of course tons of shows after their iconic album Fallen released in 2003, and after their smash-hit follow-up The Open Door in 2006. When their self-titled 2011 album came out, they did a lot of touring then, but things fell off in the late 2010s. Fast-forward to the 2020s, though, and Evanescence is back and better than ever. They released their last album The Bitter Truth in 2021, prime pandemic time. The album didn’t go unnoticed, however, with stand out tracks like “Use My Voice,” a direct message to listeners to get out and vote and speak up for what they think is right. The album is great, but their latest album, Sanctuary, feels like Evanescence at their best.

Sanctuary explores the idea of finding humanity in an increasingly robotic/artificial world. It’s unfortunate to have to second guess every photo and video we see online and the band captures that perfectly on this album. The theme also makes for one hell of a show, and Evanescence does not disappoint.

Starting with the lineup, there couldn’t be better matches than who they have traveling with them on this tour. At the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA), U.K. rockers Nova Twins opened the show, warming up the crowd with their exciting and energetic set. With crunchy bass and out-of-this-world vocals, it was a perfect start to the night. The audience was on the lower end of the energy scale, but it was a mind-blowingly hot day out in West Valley on Saturday, July 25. The current/former emos and goths handled it like champs, though.

Next up was Spiritbox, another match made in heaven for the overall lineup. Vocalist Courtney LaPlante is a force of nature on stage; her screaming vocals are strong and powerful, making it impossible not to be rapt with attention. There were sick and heavy breakdowns galore with Spritbox on stage, you couldn’t wish for better face-melting metal.

Depending on which city you’re seeing the show in, you may end up with a combination of Nova Twins, Spiritbox, Poppy and K. Flay.

Side note: Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Courtney LaPlante and Poppy wrote and recorded a song together called “End of You” that is a must-listen even if you only know one out of the three singers. Hopefully that ends up on a setlist or two for some lucky showgoers.

The energy was palpable as showgoers waited for Evanescence to take the stage; with the sun finally down, the excitement (and relief) began to sink in. There are few better feelings than the anticipation of a band you’ve been waiting to see for so long, knowing that any moment they’ll soon be out in front of you.

Sound and light effects began, and Evanescence took the stage opening with the title track from their new album. In her incredible live vocals Amy Lee sang, “Sanctuary / Breathe it in scream it out / No one’s coming to save us / It doesn’t scare me / I’m with you all the way down

MUSIC

Amy Lee of Evanescence

/ Changed by the pain we know who we are.” It was the perfect opening to the set, feeling like a huge embrace from the band that said, “You’re not alone, we’re here with you, you’re with your people and things will be okay.”

The band played a great mix of new and old, including iconic tracks like “Bring Me to Life” and “Call Me When You’re Sober.” The word “siren” has been thrown around describing Lee’s live vocals, and honestly, it couldn’t be more accurate. Her tone, projection and control are out of this world. You won’t find yourself being disappointed by an artist who sounds great in recordings, but leaves a lot to be desired live. Lee truly has an otherworldly voice.

The overall sound was also incredible. You can tell that those in charge went through everything with a fine-tooth comb, making sure that the band could deliver for the audience.

Band members Tim McCord (guitar), Will Hunt (drums), Emma Anzai (bass) and Troy McLawhorn (guitar) all kill it in their respective positions, casually throwing in guitar spins and epic solos that help make the show so thoroughly unforgettable. The added vocals from Anzai also add some fantastic spice to the show, as she complements Lee’s voice very nicely.

The best thing about their performance is how much they put into it. They don’t just coast off of name recognition, but truly put on a stadium-worthy show with moving stage pieces, pyrotechnics and high-tech screens with hypnotizing effects. Evanescence fans are pretty hardcore, and would likely be happy if the band just got up there, did their thing and then left. But if you have tickets for their show, prepare to be dazzled.

Evanescence pulls no punches and delivers a one-of-a-kind and amazing experience for fans, especially with their new album Sanctuary driving their passion. If they’re coming to a city near you, do not sleep on this show. CW

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

MUSIC PICK S

Brother Ali / DJ Abilities @ Urban Lounge

8/6

Live hip-hop is hard to pull off. You need great skill and charisma, and Brother Ali has got both of those things by the ton. Ali is a great lyricist and fantastic battle emcee, and he continues to create consistently brilliant work. His single that was released earlier this year, “Another Country,” is a timeless approach to injustice. Aimed at the rebellious and all those who challenge authority, it is a bona fide new-school anthem. “I’ve come to learn that I have very little control over how the music will be received. The best use of my time and focus and energy is to just be as sincere as possible and hope that part translates,” Ali told The Current. “I hope as much as possible that I can communicate in a way that’s genuine and authentic.” DJ Abilities has an insane degree of talent. As a DJ, rocking complex beats and breaks, on dodgy equipment, in the dark, on wax , all while interacting with the audience is an impressive skill (I’ve seen him do it many, many times). His sets are not just one banger after another; he rips the format of genres and extends them for hours. As a producer, his work with Eyedea (RIP) is legendary. Search out those early Rhymesayers albums: First Born & By The Throat. He is an absolute master of the art. Catch these acts at the Urban Lounge on Thursday, Aug. 6. Doors at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $34 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Mark Dago)

UPCOMING SHOWS

8/6

8/7 8/12 8/13 8/14 8/15

May She Reign

Weeb-core: J-core Vocaloid & Anime Rave

The Galentines

The Bomb Pulse

Meg Jordan Made To Suffer

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER,

JetBlue Airways Corporation: Principal Engineer, Business Intelligence – Salt Lake City, UT. Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of scalable BI solutions that ensure data integrity, accuracy, and security across all BI systems. For more information and to apply please visit: https://career8.successfactors.com/ sfcareer/jobreqcareerpvt?jobId=58 266&company=jetblueair&st=6DD DC073F9E3AA4F8F67401B80BF9 505B60BD77E. EOE/M/F/D/V.

MUSIC PICK S

Das Energi 2026 @ The Great Saltair 8/7–9

The biggest electronic music festival in Utah, Das Energi, is back! Now a three-day festival, it presents more headliners than ever and plenty of opportunities to see and do it all. This annual event is set against the Great Salt Lake, where you can enjoy the sunset and party all night long. As it grows bigger each year, don’t be scared to go and make plenty of friends in a welcoming environment. Das Energi also includes music from many subgenres, so there is always something for everyone. On Friday, check out headliners Zedd and Cloonee with supporting acts Hayden James, Layton Giordani, Broken Hill, Myla B2B Binaryh, RoRoll and Side Quest Queens. On Saturday, the main acts include Effin, Friction, Hybrid Minds, Ian Asher, Liquid Stranger and Ganja White Night. Then, on the final Sunday night, such headliners as Crankdat B2B Levity and Matroda will close out the festival. Hosted by MASV Music Group, this is an 18+ show with a separate 21+ bar area. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the festival ends at 2:00 a.m. at The Great Saltair in Magna this Friday, Aug. 7 - Sunday, Aug. 9. There are several options for tickets, including one-day general admission which costs $159.90 for Friday and $148.03 for Saturday and Sunday. A three-day general admission ticket costs $420.03. There are also options for V.I.P. tickets at tixr.com. (Arica Roberts)

MUSIC PICK S

Nick Shoulders @ The Commonwealth Room 8/11

From modern country’s roots of laid back, swamp-like storytelling roots, Nick Shoulders brings his thick-accented and boot-wearing set to Salt Lake City on Tuesday, August 11 at The Commonwealth Room. With popular records like Okay, Crawdad and All Bad, Shoulders has made a name for himself, putting the “try” in country music as the stark voice of the Ozark Hills. Originating from Fayetteville, Ark., he offers vocals and lyricism that are those of a true American, finding a way for themself in the age of inflation and high-struck volumes of bad attitudes and solitude. And yet, he refuses to be “all bad” with his optimism and value in the old ways of folk and bluegrass, bringing us his haunting vocality and musicianship unlike other whiskey-loving, woman-hating artists that have defined a lot of this country generation. In the likeness of such artists of old as Jimmy Driftwood and Doc Watson, Shoulders carries on the legacy of cowboy hymns to get you through long-winded days as the sun beats down, like a cool glass of lemonade. And through relatable tracks like “Rather Low” and “Whooped if You Will,” you’re sure to be singing along, with the wind hitting your face on a cool summer’s evening. So join Shoulders at The Commonwealth Room with your troubles behind you and an evening of yodel-filled joy. Tickets are $26 and the show begins at 8 p.m. You must be 21+ for entry. Find your tickets now at axs.com.

(Laney Hansen)

Passion Pit @ The Complex 8/11

Massachusetts indie and electronic-pop band Passion Pit will grace the stage at The Complex in downtown Salt Lake City this week. Their breakthrough album— Manners, released back in 2009—features hits like “Sleepyhead” with lyrics, “You were one inch from the edge of this bed / I drag you back / A sleepyhead.” Fans have tried to decipher the song’s meaning—whether it’s about depression wherein those who are depressed sleep a lot and always seem tired, and “With hungry lions, with all their might and all their thirst,” where depression

is depicted as a beast. Others have a completely different view of the song as being about someone having nightmares, going in and out of sleep, and their lover comforting them through it. That’s part of the genius of Passion Pit’s creator, singer, songwriter and producer Michael Angelakos. He’s able to make a simple song that can resonate in so many different ways, and maybe even change depending on what you are personally experiencing in life. You can check out their 2013 NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert for a preview of their group dynamic, with Chris Hartz on the drums, Aaron Harrison Folb on bass, Giuliano Pizzulo and Ray Suen on guitar and synthesizers. Come see Passion Pit with support from Arden Jones at the Rockwell in The Complex on Tuesday, August 11. This is an all-ages event. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $44.68. Go to axs.com. (Arica Roberts)

Sugar @ Red Butte Garden, 8/12

When influential punk trio Hüsker Dü broke up in 1988, singer, songwriter and guitarist Bob Mould embarked on a solo career. He toured in support of a pair of albums, and by 1991 was working on new material with bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis; the trio soon became Sugar. The new trio created music that drew from their strengths in punk, hardcore and melodic pop, all delivered in a trademark high energy style. 1992’s critically-acclaimed Copper Blue rocked as hard as ever, but also contained irresistibly catchy tunes like Mould’s

“If I Can’t Change your Mind.” A follow-up EP, Beaster, eschewed the pop perspective in favor of heavier arrangements. 1994’s playfully-titled File Under: Easy Listening returned to Copper Blue ’s varied approach and featured another indelible melody in “Believe What You’re Saying.” After the 1995 B-sides compilation, the band amicably went inactive, with Mould resuming his solo career. Somewhat unexpectedly, however, three full decades later, the band released a new song, “House of Dead Memories,” along with the announcement of a 2026 North American tour. Sugar comes to Red Butte Garden on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Jawbox’s J. Robbins opens. Tickets are $82.75 from etix.com. (Bill Kopp)

Nick Shoulders

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

In the early days of aviation, navigation instruments were rudimentary, and the skies were often a blur of clouds, darkness or featureless horizons. Pilots sometimes relied on a technique called “dead reckoning”: good instinct bolstered by simple instruments like compasses and stopwatches. I suspect you will benefit from practicing a metaphorical version of dead reckoning in the coming weeks. You may not have all the data you would like, and the path ahead might be less than clear. But you already possess enough hints and inklings to make thoughtful approximations. If you’re alert and flexible, listening to subtle signals within you and around you, your evolving estimates will guide you uncannily close to the right destination.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Nineteenth-century poet Emily Dickinson rarely left her comfortable home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her favorite activity was to sit in her bedroom and compose her odd, unique, brilliant poems. Eventually, she wrote 1,800 of them, though few were published during her lifetime. Today she is renowned as one of America’s great literary geniuses. Her story reminds us that magnificent growth may emerge from simple and humble circumstances. I suspect you will thrive if you borrow her strategy during the coming weeks. You don’t need a hubbub of flashy events to evoke your beauty. A period of creative stillness could amplify your imagination and inspire your dazzle.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

In Renaissance workshops, apprentice painters learned their craft by assisting masters with small tasks. They mixed pigments, prepared canvases and cleaned up. There was a valuable trade-off for this humble work. Being in proximity to mature brilliance often spurred the fledgling artists to harness their own creative powers. I suspect this dynamic is relevant for you, Gemini. Now is a favorable time to be alert for unexpected teachers and lessons. Be ready to apprentice yourself to captivating experiences where you might learn what you didn’t even realize you needed to know. Your willingness to be a curious, gracious student is your superpower.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

If you knew you were going to live to 95 in reasonably good health, what additional careers or adventures might you pursue? Visualize your lifespan stretching out before you like a wide winding road, where you will have plenty of time not just to survive, but to experiment, wander and reinvent yourself. Would you train for a new craft or profession? Would you move to another country for a while and apprentice yourself to a language, landscape or tradition that has always piqued your curiosity? I invite you to take a concrete step that moves you in the direction of interesting future fun.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Within most galaxies are dense clouds of gas and dust that astronomers call “star factories.” Here and there, the magic of gravity gradually gathers together diffuse material into concentrated clusters until nuclear fusion ignites, creating brilliant new suns. I suspect you will be operating a metaphorical star factory in the coming weeks and months, Leo. Small ideas, fragments of plans, or tentative experiments could coalesce in productive ways. Through your patient attention and care, luminous concentrations of useful beauty will emerge.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Virgo biologist Stephen Jay Gould argued that evolution isn’t a ladder of progress but a branching bush of experimentation. Most species that ever existed are extinct, but they weren’t failures. For a very long time, they were successful experiments in being alive, well adapted to their environment. When conditions changed, they ended. That’s how evolution works. Let’s apply this lesson to your life, Virgo. If a part of your world is concluding, celebrate and thank it, then bid it a fond farewell. Feel grateful that it

succeeded completely at what it was meant to do and gave you all it had to give.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Your sense of purpose is intensifying. Your people need you more than ever, and your gifts are ripening just as they are most valuable to your community. But I must add that the road ahead will not be frictionless. You will have to outmaneuver diversionary tactics and dispel pockets of confusion. To serve as a shimmering catalyst of beauty and truth for your allies—and a shrewd strategist in the presence of deflections—lean into the paradoxical counsel attributed to Jesus: Be gentle and pure like a dove, yet keenly perceptive and discerning like a serpent.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Concrete continues to cure beyond the time when it’s first poured. After seven days, it has 70% of its ultimate strength, and after 14 days, 90%. It usually keeps getting sturdier for a few months, even years. I propose that we use this as a metaphor for what you’re working on, Scorpio. The foundations you established a while back are still solidifying. Projects that are working pretty well are still developing potency. This is a good thing! Everything is slowly improving through processes you’re not actively managing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Here’s your assignment: Find yourself a pair of enchanted pants that will bring you good luck and stir up fun. How will you know that they’re authentically charmed? Because when you put them on, you will instinctively wander toward adventures that expand your understandings about life. They may also lead you to explore places and situations that aren’t truly forbidden or taboo, but which you have oddly avoided as if they were forbidden or taboo. Finally, your enchanted pants are likely to inspire you to dream up a few crazy good ideas that will turn out not to be mostly good and not at all crazy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

In classical music, a “fermata” is a symbol on the sheet music that instructs the instrumentalist to hold a note longer than its written duration. How long? It’s unpredictable. The musician decides. I think your life would benefit from a metaphorical fermata or two, Capricorn—maybe even more. You won’t come to a protracted pause, but you will engage in strategic prolonging, extending certain notes beyond their expected duration. Examples? Lingering longer in a conversation from which you’re inclined to exit early; staying with an ambiguous emotion rather than rushing to resolution; allowing a project to develop more leisurely than you might if you were simply pushing for sheer efficiency. Opt for what’s soulful instead of what’s crisp and neat.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Fate is subtly but insistently pressuring you to stop squandering energy on half-hearted, hand-me-down desires. Why? So your real, holy obsessions can move to the center of your attention. The tepid wishes and lukewarm yearnings are being exposed for what they are: distractions that nibble away at your time and passion without fully feeding your soul. As these mediocre drives fade in importance, you’ll be exultant to see how much more fire, clarity and juice you have available for the few burning, churning yearnings that truly belong to you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is so deep that if Mount Everest were located at the bottom, its peak would be over a mile underwater. The deepest point in the ocean could swallow the highest point on land with room to spare. The world holds more below than above. Please meditate on this fun fact, Pisces. I hope it inspires you to understand that your most interesting power often lies in the depths, not the peaks. While others are summiting, you’re descending into the mysterious, fathomless interiors. Your explorations may not photograph well because they happen in darkness. But they are the source of your strength.

Data Scientist for Chinatown Supermarket LLC, F/T in Salt Lake City, UT. Collect & prep multi-source biz/financial data for grocery oprns, ensuring accuracy & usability; Apply statistical & ML techniques to uncover trends, spprt forecasting, & improve performance; Build & maint dashboards, models, & automated data pipelines to spprt scalable analytics; Deliver clear visualizations & summaries to mgmt & partners for decision-making. Must have a Master’s Deg in Comp Sci & 3 mos exp using Prgm’g for Data-Driven Systems, Data Collection, Prep’n, & Quality Checking, Analytical Reasoning & Quantitative Problem-Solving, Algorithm Dsgn & Optimization, Automation & Pipeline Thinking, Modeling & Simulation Mindset, Visualization & Insight Communication, & Iterative Experimentation & Improvement. $97,386/yr. Email resumes Hiring@ chinatown-supermarket.com.

Market Research Analyst for Chinatown Supermarket LLC, F/T in Salt Lake City, UT. Gather, compile, & anlyz data about consumers, competitors, mkt conds & trends, consumer demographics, prefs, needs, & buying habits to create mktg forecasts; interpret complex data & findings to det pricing & mktg strats; assess impact & performance of co’s existing mktg & sales prgms, mthds, & strats, & propose solutions & suggestions to improve them; & apply effective communication skills to present findings, explain recomm’ns, & coord w/ relevant teams. Must have a Bachelor’s Deg in Communication & 1 mo exp w/ Mktg principles & mthds, Data collection, cleansing, & anlys, Trend identification, Performance eval’n, Spreadsheet & tracking log mgmt, Report prep’n & biz writing, & Metrics & key performance indicators (KPIs). $42,141/yr. Email resumes Hiring@chinatown-supermarket.com.

Financial Analyst for Chinatown Supermarket LLC, F/T in Salt Lake City, UT. Anlyz financial data & prep financial reports to monitor performance, ensure accuracy & compliance, & spprt sound financial decisionmaking; conduct financial rsrch & eval investments, projs, & biz strats thru ROI, cost-profit, break-even, & other ad hoc anlys; & collab w/ internal & external stakeholders to spprt financial planning, budgeting, special projs, & overall co objectives. Must have a Master’s Deg in Finance & 3 mos rltd working exp. $79,914/yr. Email resumes Hiring@chinatownsupermarket.com.

Market Research Analyst for Chinatown Supermarket LLC, F/T in Salt Lake City, UT. Anlyz mkt trends, competitor performance, & biz data using statistical anlys, biz intelligence tools, & quantitative mthds to idntfy insights & growth opps; eval mktg & operational performance thru KPIs & forecasting to spprt strategic decisions; collect & interpret biz data from surveys, reports, & dtbases to generate forecasts; & apply techniques such as A/B testing, regression, segmentation, & predictive modeling to optimize strats, resource alloc’n, & overall biz performance. Must have a Master’s Deg in Business Analytics. $58,989/ yr. Email resumes Hiring@ chinatown-supermarket.com.

urban LIVING

WITH BABS DELAY

Broker, Urban Utah Homes & Estates, urbanutah.com

Getting Greener

Salt Lake City is concerned about the Great Salt Lake drying up and the exposed lakebed dust killing all of us with toxic chemicals. Our city is diligently trying to keep getting our town greener through a program called Climate Forward SLC.

I recall when SLC set up the e2 business program in 2003, which sought to help local organizations reduce waste and adopt sustainable practices. I signed up, mine being the first company to do so. At the time, several of my fellow realtors thought I was promoting bigger lawns because I was “going green” (for reals!).

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. “Quiet!”

6. Chilled

10. “Say again?”

14. Kitchen appliance manufacturer

15. Drift around

16. Bug

17. Head snake?

19. School attended by Ian Fleming

20. Greater or Lesser islands

21. Large numbers

23. Rep.’s rival

24. Milk sugar

25. Incinerator debris

28. “Don’t do drugs” ad, e.g.

30. Employee of Santa

31. Zhou En-___

32. Objects

35. “Benevolent” lodge members

38. Keystone structure

Tyler Poulson, founder of Collaborative Climate—a firm specializing in clean energy solutions—is leading the Climate Forward study. His firm polled several businesses last December about what types of sustainable measures locals are adopting as well as the financial/tech issues related to becoming more sustainable.

Climate Forward SLC—a continuation and enhancement of former city priorities—has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions here by 40% in 2040. Where are these emissions coming from? Our buildings, our cars on the road and via materials and food waste we all contribute to daily. An existing conditions report notes the risks, carbon sources and input that’s been collected earlier this year, such as the fact that air quality and groundlevel ozone has reduced outdoor air quality over the past 30 years, as well as indoor air pollution data and choices for things like home and business appliances that affect air quality. Per our carbon emissions, the goal is obviously to reduce burning fossil fuels.

Our primary sources of greenhouse gases are electricity generation (40%) and natural gas consumption in buildings (29%). We have a cleaner electric grid, but Poulson says we need to get to zero carbon emissions from electricity usage in equipment and vehicles. He contends there are keys to eliminating emissions: cut energy waste and electrify everything to reach a 100% clean grid. We can upgrade our home appliances for households by replacing gas machines, like our furnaces and our gas stoves, and by electrifying a household, like changing out HVAC and water heaters with heat pumps and kitchen ranges with induction ranges. For transportation, many emissions can be eliminated at the tail pipe with electric vehicles, by taking transit or by opting to walk or bike for shorter trips.

Poulson reported that our national grid is getting cleaner, as solar just exceeded coal in the U.S. grid this year, wind power being the number one renewable energy source in the country. The European Union reports that 25% of its electricity is coming from solar in the summer months. Utah has a new Renewable Communities program this winter, in which 16 local governments have set a goal of a net-100% clean and electric grid with zero emissions.

Watch for info from Rocky Mountain Power on how to sign up, or visit slc. gov/sustainability/climate-forward. ■

40. Openly disobey

41. 2021 TimothÈe Chalamet movie

42. “Just Do It” company

43. Genetically doubled

45. Middling grade

46. Host Shapiro or Melber

48. Greek wedding shout

49. “Star Trek: TNG” first officer

51. “Game of Thrones” character who’s told that he knows nothing

54. Director Craven

55. Commonplace

56. “The Phantom Menace” designation

61. Velodrome vehicle

62. Vacation spot full of bees?

64. Judith of “Designing Women”

65. Reduce a sentence?

66. “SNL” alum Murphy

67. “Say Hey” Hall of Famer

68. Part

69. Scans in

DOWN

1. Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Hadid

2. Hacker’s exclamation of success (or so movies tell me)

3. It’s behind you

4. Behind closed doors

5. World’s ___ Thermometer (attraction in Baker, Calif.)

6. “Dies ___” (Latin hymn)

7. New England fishes

8. Genesis figure

9. Skin layer

10. Went to the mat

11. #1 songs that bring good fortune?

12. Lotion additives

13. All wound up

18. Shade tree

22. Royal flush card

24. ___ Beach (Orange County city)

25. “Beauty and the Beast” composer Menken

26. Madras wrap

27. Requirement to decode the jargon of a guy from the sticks?

28. Feather-filled item

29. Meddlesome sort

33. Compound used in air conditioning to replace the more potent “chloro-” version

34. Sault ___ Marie, Ontario

36. On bended ___

37. Prognosticator

39. Letters on a bar?

44. Bedroom furniture piece

47. TV chef Garten

50. Tristan’s operatic lover

51. “The Girl From Ipanema” composer

53. Last questionnaire option, often

54.

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

52. ‘60s-’70s Twins star Tony

Console whose last games were released in 2020 56. Wicked

57. Comedian Holmes 58. Nihilistic art genre 59. Author Blyton 60. Monthly midpoint 63. Vow phrase

NEWS of the WEIRD

Not Great, Bob David Cifaldi, 32, was hiking Granite Mountain in Montana on July 20 when he tripped over a rock and impaled himself with one of his hiking poles—and managed to hike the 10 miles back with the pole through his side, The New York Times reported. Cifaldi, an ER nurse, assessed his wounds and determined that because there was no blood and that he could take deep breaths, he was in good enough shape to get himself to safety. One friend radioed ahead for help and walked ahead to warn other hikers—especially those with children—about the “gnarly” sight. The other friend walked behind him to watch for further signs of injury. The trek took about six and a half hours, and Cifaldi was in good enough spirits to joke around with his friends. They “started making shish kebab jokes,” Cifaldi said. “By the end, they were calling me ‘Bob’ on the way out.” He was cared for in Billings, at the very hospital where he works. Doctors there successfully removed the pole, but additional surgery could still be in Cifaldi’s future. “I’m not an amateur hiker,” he said, adding that this was “just a freak accident.”

Pain in the Neck

A circus performer is recovering after his wife and fellow performer accidentally shot him in the neck with an arrow from a crossbow during a show, the Associated Press reported. Ana Daza Tavera, 42, and Edwin Cuervo Rangel, 38, were doing their regular sharpshooting act at a county fair in Middletown, New York, on July 24, when the accident occurred. The circus was canceled for the night, and Cuervo Rangel was airlifted to a hospital, where the arrow was removed and the wound site stitched up. Ringmaster Benjamin Jackson said that there was “no blood leaking out. There was a little around the hole where the arrow went in, kind of like getting your ear pierced,” he said. The circus resumed its regular schedule, but the sharpshooting act is on hold while Cuervo Rangel makes a full recovery.

Wild Things

Facing the loss of federal grants for a program that studies marmots, a group of researchers from the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory has turned to an unusual source for financial support: an OnlyFans page called OnlyMarms, UPI reported on July 28. Professor Daniel Blumstein, the head of the program, says they will also continue to seek traditional funding sources. “[The OnlyMarms page is] going to be G-rated, and we’re not going to sexualize this,” Blumstein said. “We’re just going to have fun with sharing.” Masters student Emily Renkey runs the page. “Sometimes I’m just posting the videos I think will get the most ‘awws,’” she said. “But my favorite is when I find footage of a particular behavior and I can use that to educate people.” Fans of the page can leave tips to support the group’s research.

Nature Gone Wild

■ On July 24, WJTV reported that a six-foot iguana made a break for it inside a Memphis FedEx, after a man opened a package that contained the large lizard. In a video of the incident, a man is seen opening a large box and the iguana, named Titan, jumps out. “He was shipped overnight, and I expected him to be stiff for a minute like most reptiles after shipping. Nope. Titan came out ready for all the smoke,” owner Roderick Duncan said. Duncan and FedEx employees eventually captured Titan, who ran around the store. Appreciative of the assistance from the FedEx employees, Duncan said, “They handled it like champs.”

■ In Douglas County, Colorado, sheriff’s deputies responded to a break-in, only to discover the culprits weren’t of the human variety: Two cubs had found their way into the home through an open window, UPI reported on July 27. After exploring the home, the bears settled on a dinner of cat food. Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded and assisted deputies in directing the bears out of the home and into the woods.

■ Meanwhile, in Gold Hill, Colorado, a bear broke into a car overnight and, unable to get out, laid on the horn. All night. KOSI reported on July 22 that when the owner came upon his car the next morning, he saw the driver’s side airbag had been deployed and the interior ransacked. Afraid to get too close, he devised a plan, no doubt inspired by parents of children with loose teeth: He tied a rope around the car door handle, walked a safe distance away ... and yanked. The door flew open and the bear ambled out and into the woods.

Mowing While Intoxicated

An Iowa woman was arrested on July 24 for driving a lawn mower in a Casey’s convenience store parking lot outside Iowa City, The Smoking Gun reported. The witness indicated that the driver, Michelle Hudson, 36, seemed to be intoxicated. A breath test showed she was under the legal limit, but the police report said Hudson did not perform well on the field sobriety test and “showed measurable signs of impairment.” Hudson’s driver’s license was suspended after a 2022 conviction for driving her SUV while under the influence of meth. After the lawn mower incident, she was arrested for operating under the influence and driving while barred. She is being held in the county jail without bond while she waits for her court appearance.

Castaway

On July 21, Kai Sato of California was rescued by the crew of a container ship after spending a month stranded at sea. The Guardian reported that the 39-year-old man set sail from the Catalina Islands in on June 7 with the intention of completing his first solo trip across the Pacific Ocean; but a few weeks into the journey, his mast broke, his phone died and he ran out of gas trying to use the boat’s motor to steer. “I was literally like a sitting duck, just getting taken south by the current going way off course,” he said. After a brief period of despair, he managed to cobble together some repairs using PVC pipes and kayak paddles, collected drinking water from a plastic bag that collected condensation, and ate fish and squid that jumped into his boat. Eventually, his boat drifted into a shipping lane between California and Hawaii, where he was rescued by the crew of a container ship.

Message in a Bottle

A 53-year-old message in a bottle has finally made its way home. John Kauterman of New Jersey was doing his regular clean-up of wetlands in Upper Township when he came across the artifact. Inside was a note written by Laurie Blair, who would have been 9 years old when she dictated it to her older sister, who had nicer handwriting. The note contains a tall tale about “ruthless sponge fishermen” and diving in “sharkinfested waters!” Kauterman took to social media to see if he could find Laurie. Her sister, Allie Spencer, saw the post and reported that Laurie died from cancer in 2019. Kauterman sent Laurie’s letter to Spencer, who plans to frame it. “[Laurie] was really confident at the time we wrote it that it was going to be found, so I think she would say, ‘I told you so,’” Spencer said.