City Weekly July 9, 2026

THE LONG ROAD HOME

Utahns are traveling abroad for ibogaine, while experts voice both optimism and caution around the emerging drug.

BY ZACH ABEND

By Zach Abend

S AP

BOX

In Dependence Day

When the Continental Congress adopted its Declaration of Independence, officially published on July 4, 1776, there were reasons—reasons laid out in detail in that very same declaration. King George III, the founders of the United States of America said, obstructed immigration. He kept standing armies in times of peace. He sent out “swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”

He restricted foreign trade. He imposed taxes without their consent. And so on, and so forth. And by golly, when a government became destructive of the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as the King of England had, the people had a right to “alter or abolish it.”

Fast-forward 250 years. The current U.S. government obstructs immigration, keeps standing armies in times of peace, employs more—and more meddlesome—bureaucrats than George III might have ever dreamed possible, restricts foreign trade and imposes an average tax burden about 16 times as large as American colonists moaned about.

The colonists declared independence from Britain. Today’s America is built on a very different proposition, best summarized by Benito Mussolini in the early 20th century to define his philosophy, fascism:

“All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”

Today’s America is built on dependence, not independence.

The average American is born in a government-regulated hospital, issued a government birth certificate, assigned a government identification number, shipped off as early as possible to government-regulated schools, graciously allowed by government to work in governmentregulated businesses (if his or her government papers are found to be in order), retires on a government pension, and is eventually buried or cremated in accordance with government regulations.

And of course, every Fourth of July, he or she dutifully waves a piece of cloth representing that government, cries tears of gratitude for the brave government employees who defend his or her “freedom,” and perhaps—

if, and only if, the government allows it—enjoys some fireworks.

I used to find the differences between the Declaration and modern reality horrifying enough to title my Independence Day columns “Mourn on the Fourth of July.”

That horror, however, has faded to boredom over time. America today feels a lot like the pictures of those gray old Soviet housing blocs—brutalist in architecture and only semifunctional in construction.

I’ve reached a new stage: “Meh on the Fourth of July.” Enjoy your holiday weekend, fellow serfs.

THOMAS KNAPP

The William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism

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 song reminds you of your childhood?

Paula Saltas

My first vinyl record I bought when I was around 10 was The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You” while looking at David Cassidy posters in my room. He really was singing to me, I swear.

Scott Renshaw

I have a very specific memory of one of the first times my family went to Disneyland. The car radio was playing the Carpenters’ “Close to You” as we pulled into the parking lot. I still see the Matterhorn in my mind every time I hear that song.

Zach Abend

Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

Gavin Dahl

I will never forget dancing around in my pajamas to “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits when I was little.

Kayla Dreher

“Yellow Submarine” (The Beatles), “Hey There Delilah” (Plain White T’s) and “Rockstar” (Nickelback).

Wes Long

A number of tunes come to mind, but my heart belongs to the Carole King song from the old vinyl soundtrack of The Care Bears Movie. Takes me right back to my old home in Missoula, Montana.

OPINION

BY CHRISTOPHER SMART

How Trump Stole America’s

Birthday

Donald Trump hijacked what should have been a national celebration of unity and bent it for his own interests. Congress had created “America250,” a nonpartisan commission to create a multifaceted observance of the Declaration of Independence. But Trump created “Freedom 250” by executive order to take over the patriotic milestone.

California Rep. Jared Huffman, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, released a 55-page report accusing Freedom 250 of turning the anniversary into a “hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment” that could amount to fraud. Trump’s group siphoned funds from the congressional commission, the report said, “to push a very divisive, very extreme and explicitly sectarian religious agenda in our name, using our taxpayer dollars.”

“This was a team of operatives using the Freedom 250 shell company,” Huffman said, “but it was also Donald Trump telling them what to do.”

Not least, donors who intended to support America250 were given Freedom 250’s donating information. Freedom 250 also circulated sponsorship packages, according to the report, culminating in a photo op with Trump, effectively selling access to the president. No public records. And the grift continues.

MAGA Mike Lee—Big Thinker on a Roll

Utah’s senior senator is a MAGA darling, scoring big points with the “Save America Act,” in which voters would

have to prove they are U.S. citizens despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Most recently, Mike Lee claimed the Constitution must be amended to ban birthright citizenship as outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment.

The very conservative U.S. Supreme Court just upheld birthright citizenship, with Chief Justice John Roberts saying, in essence, that the Constitution hasn’t changed. Yes, Wilson, we might add that words still hold their meaning—for now.

Not known for understatement, Lee posted this in response: “In today’s world, unrestricted, automatic birthright citizenship is suicidal. The Supreme Court could and should have read the Fourteenth Amendment as something other than a suicide pact.”

The brilliant senator then seemed to nix his own argument with pretzel logic: “Those who drafted and ratified that provision certainly didn’t regard it as such.”

Lee’s other brainstorm, the “Save America Act” would mean that married women who changed their last name could find themselves in a bind, because it would not match their birth certificate. Nonetheless, Trump loves the idea. Great minds think alike.

Trump’s Mug on Mount Rushmore

No, Wilson, it’s not a satirical headline from The Onion: Trump is again trumpeting the idea that he should be up there on Mount Rushmore with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abe Lincoln.

On July 3—the eve of the country’s 250th anniversary— Donald J. Trump, the self-proclaimed greatest president ever, buzzed over to South Dakota to get his picture taken in front of the famed rock face.

“There would be no better addition to the iconic Mount Rushmore than the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump,” said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. And why not? Trump has enriched himself and his family while in office more than any other president. If that isn’t great, what is?

Sure, he erected a gold statue of himself at one of his golf courses. He put his name on government buildings and U.S. passports, coins, roads and even got it on an airport (formerly Palm Beach International).

Is that enough? Hardly. Some frowny faces refused to name Dulles International Airport in D.C. and Penn Station in New York City after him.

When Trump was first elected, then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem presented him with a little mockup of his face on Mount Rushmore, and his head was tiny, tiny, tiny. Yes, Wilson, it is rather apropos.

Postscript—That’s going to do it for another historical/ hysterical week here at Smart Bomb, where we keep track of Ranch salad dressing so you don’t have to. Hold on to your soccer ball, Wilson, ‘cause Ranch dressing is the big hit of the World Cup.

Football fans from all over the globe have been bowled over by the uniquely American sauce. They can’t get enough and slather it on anything and everything. Airport TSAs are having to pull bottles of the stuff out of carry-on luggage, as foreigners head home attempting to smuggle it onboard.

Like fry sauce is to Utah, you can’t get Ranch dressing anywhere else in the world. Still, not a mention of it at Trump’s America’s Fair.

It was invented by Steve Henson, a Nebraska plumbing contractor who concocted Ranch in Alaska in the early 1950s when trying to rustle up some grub for his work crew. He threw together buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, black pepper, chives and dill and mixed them into mayonnaise. Later he and his wife purchased a California dude ranch and named it Hidden Valley.

The dude ranch went under, but the dressing was a huge success. Seventy years later, it’s the smash hit of the World Cup. See Wilson, you just never know. CW

Christopher Smart writes the weekly Smart Bomb column, available online at cityweekly.net

2025 BEST OF UTAH WINNER 16 WINS SINCE 2015

HITS & MISSES

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Let’s just say it would be awkward for The Salt Lake Tribune to note former staffer Bryan Schott’s big win. Schott was apparently fired—according to the Utah Legislature, at least—because he offered to buy banned books for kids. I mean, who wouldn’t? But that’s beside the point. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has revived Schott’s lawsuit against the Legislature over its refusal to grant him a press credential. So no, it isn’t over, but this is one more notch in the belt of MAGA’s effort to suppress free thinking and, of course, a free press. Schott, publisher of Utah Political Watch, doesn’t have a big organization behind him. He’s on his own, making him vulnerable financially and professionally. The fact that he was denied press credentials—after covering the Legislature for years with other media—has been called “viewpoint discrimination.” They don’t like what he’s saying, and very few local outlets have covered the issue. Meanwhile, The Pentagon has barred journalists from its press office for similar reasons and an historic ship bearing the message “Save the Clean Water Act” was taken out of the New York Harbor parade. In America, we shouldn’t be sanitizing everything according to one point of view.

HIT: Marching Orders

These days, when you see a group marching down the street, it just might make your skin crawl. Like on July 4 in Washington, D.C., when masked white supremacists—members of the Patriot Front—marched with flags chanting “Life, Liberty, Victory!” In case you missed it, the Trump administration has been promoting masculinity, whiteness and, of course, Christianity, which was highlighted in the Rededicate 250 event, with a big cross on the stage. But this Independence Day saw some different groups marching. St. George reflected on Revolutionary War patriots. In Moab, a group of 18 people dressed as suffragists and carrying “We Can Do It” banners made their way through Moab spreading a message of hope and activism. It is still relevant after 250 years.

MISS: In Decline

All we had to do was Google it. Other than forcing people to have babies or paying them to get pregnant, what’s the solution to impending school closures in Utah’s capital city? The Salt Lake School District has created a long rationale, with data points to help them decide which schools to shutter. That’s because the outlook is bleak and state funding is based on how many kids enroll in a school. But who wouldn’t want the district to think out of the proverbial box? Research seems to show that closures don’t save money and do more harm than good to students. There have been suggestions of merging schools and taking a community-based approach, where schools open to share resources—maybe a library—and co-locating certain services. But all this takes vision and will, and of course a Legislature that supports public education. CW

Extra Ordinary

When my husband and I bought our house, I felt enormously lucky. It was quirky, wonderful and full of potential—a true west-side gem. We didn’t know our neighbors, but we ended up heading to the July Fourth celebration at Jordan Park.

I was completely overwhelmed. The park was packed. Kids ran through the grass carrying glowing toys. Dogs wandered the crowd collecting attention from strangers. Families claimed space with blankets and lawn chairs.

It was a dusk full of laughter and different languages. Music blasted in the distance and nobody seemed particularly concerned about where the show would appear. We simply enjoyed ourselves until the music stopped.

The first flashes of light drew squeals of delight. People pointed for strangers to see. Thousands of us searched the darkening sky together.

I know I took pictures. If I searched my phone I could probably find videos of the exploding reds, whites and blues, or photos of our son and dogs on an old blanket we call “Mr. Peach.” But those photos don’t capture what I remember most—the spirit of the people.

The past couple decades have been hard. We don’t always have a lot to be proud of, and we don’t always have reasons to be joyful. Yet there we were, thousands of strangers together on a summer evening, sharing the same experience and hoping, in our own way, that good things were still possible.

I’ve found that same feeling in our city’s parks, libraries, pools and along the Jordan River. You can sit on a bench, read a book or listen to music. You can watch your child make a best friend, one they may never see again after summer ends.

These places ask very little of us: nobody needs to buy anything; nobody needs to justify their presence. And somehow, good things happen there anyway. Kids build sand castles in volleyball courts. Strangers help each other find a book or a bathroom. Neighbors stop to chat. Dogs make introductions on behalf of their humans. Nothing extraordinary.

Sometimes community spaces are called “amenities.” That word has never felt quite right to me. An amenity is something nice to have, like a bonus or a convenience. These places are something more. They are where strangers become neighbors. Where children learn wonder. Where communities gather not because they have to, but because they want to.

Maybe that’s why losing them feels so devastating. We aren’t really losing a park, a pool or an “amenity,” we’re losing one of the places where we are reminded of who we truly are. The city would still function without them. Traffic would still move, bills would still get paid. But it would be more isolated, less joyful, a little less human.

We lose the places where kindness happens naturally, where wonder still has room to surprise. Over time, we lose those rare moments when thousands of people gather on a summer night, look up at the same sky and feel, if only for a moment, like friends. CW

ELIZABETH CONVERSE

City Weekly’s Best Of Utah

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STAY TUNED FOR THE 2026 BEST OF UTAH BALLOT THIS AUGUST!

Each week, City Weekly will publish, email to our Best of Utah list and post on our socials an expanded version of our beloved Best of Utah issue. With over 400 categories to choose from, we selected our favorites to post from now til the Best of Utah issue in November. Remember, always support local!

Cabaret of Light

SLAC’s Summer Show offers a reminder that we can still laugh while fighting the good fight.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

There’s a bit of an ironic component to the choice of opening musical number in the 2026 installment of Salt Lake Acting Company’s SLAC’s Summer Show, dubbed The Gaslight Zone. The welcome to the audience by the show’s host, Broad Sterling (played by Scotty Fletcher, aka drag queen Jenna Say-Kwah), is set to the tune of the iconic “Wilkommen” from Cabaret—a dark show notoriously about people immersing themselves in frivolous entertainments while ignoring the rise of fascism. In this show’s context, however, the meaning is quite different: Here we have a frivolous entertainment intended specifically to draw attention to the rise of fascism.

The armature on which the show’s writers—Olivia Custodio, Austin Archer and Penelope Caywood—hang their sketches and scenes emphasizes that a lot of what we’re experiencing is nothing new. Particularly in the first act, the emphasis is on finding contemporary spins on episodes of the original 1959 - 1964 Twilight Zone series. The classic portrait of Cold War suburban paranoia “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” becomes “The Papers are Due on Vermillion Street,” as Utah County residents wonder who might be the target of the ICE truck in their neighborhood; “Eye of the Beholder,” with its satire of obsession with physical appearance, turns its eye on “Mar-a-Lago face;” “It’s

a Good Life,” based around people placating a capricious child with unspeakable power, becomes … well, you can probably guess what high-profile figure becomes the capricious child in this scenario.

Those skits are generally pretty satisfying—in particular a segment that finds a weaselly Gov. Spencer Cox (Marc Nielson) trying to avoid taking responsibility for policy decisions that have endangered the Great Salt Lake—but are hampered a bit by how much better they are when people are talking than when people are singing. While the traditional format for this show practically demands song parodies, some of them end up distracting from the primary content to which they’re attached, like the aforementioned “Eye of the Beholder”-inspired segment transforming into a thirsty ode to the governor of California where Raye’s “Where Is My Husband!” becomes “Where Is My Gavin!”

The real stand-out bits might be the prerecorded fake commercials that play between segments, shot in black-and-white and using vintage style for such products as autism-free Tylenol, Stretch Johnson (an action figure that ties itself in knots like the current Speaker of the House) and the Redacto-Pen 5000 (for removing a name from pesky incriminating files).

It’s really the show’s relentless energy that sells the production year after year, and the ensemble does terrific work. It feels almost unfair to single out individual members, but a couple of performers do get showier bits to sink their teeth into. Nielson proves hilarious not just as the pathetically blubbering Cox, but as Donald Trump, finding an exaggerated version of the president that doesn’t just feel like he’s doing an impression of someone else’s impression. Meanwhile, a segment set during the memorial service/rally for the show’s

Charlie Kirk stand-in provides a great platform for Becky Jeanne Knowles to do a wonderfully crazy-eyed Erika, who becomes almost possessed before launching into a tradwife anthem based on Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.”

Then there is Fletcher, who plays both to the crowd and with the crowd as the show’s version of Cabaret’s gender-bending Emcee. Sporting insanely elaborate costumes and headdresses by costume designer Dennis Hassen, Fletcher keeps the party going with more than just timefiller between quick-changes for the rest of the cast members, including taking lead on songs like a twist on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s “Pure Imagination” that boasts the show’s cleverest original lyrics. It’s marvelously entertaining in a way that pulls from the best of drag performance conventions yet fits perfectly into the vibe of this show.

And that vibe could perhaps best be described as “pissed-off joy.” Political satire ain’t easy in a time where the real world grows more ridiculous by the day, and

some of the targets here are of the fish-ina-barrel variety, like RFK Jr.’s weird voice and goofy Utah-specific first names. Yet every once in a while, this show will also hit a target like the sexualization of preadolescent girls in a way that feels bracing in generating gasp-laughs. The closing refrain of “We’re All In This Together” is a reminder of how much work needs to be done, and the show as a whole is a reminder that we don’t have to just scowl and complain while doing it. Even if it doesn’t generally feel right now like life is a cabaret, it’s definitely a place where we can still laugh while fighting the good fight. CW

SLAC’S SUMMER SHOW: THE GASLIGHT ZONE Salt Lake Acting Company 168 W. 500 North Through Aug. 16 $20 - $55 saltlakeactingcompany.org

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT PICKS, JULY 9-16

Heated Rivalry Comedy Show

Anyone who thinks they can predict with certainty which shows will or won’t become a sensation is kidding themselves, and it certainly seemed like a shock from out of left field when Netflix’s Heated Rivalry became one of the most talked-about series of 2025—or, to use a more hockey-appropriate metaphor, a short-handed goal. The tale of two professional hockey players who become secret romantic partners while playing for rival teams caught on not just with queer audiences, but was a breakout hit in other demographics as well. And when something becomes as ubiquitous as Heated Rivalry did, it’s not long before it inspires spinoff fan content like the Heated Rivalry Comedy Show.

Created by comedians Erin Cholakian and Madison Teresa, the Heated Rivalry Comedy Show is a unique multimedia event that combines fandom for the show with everything from clown performances and interactive audience participation. The show typically includes such presentations as “Ranking the Women of Heated Rivalry from Least to Most Influential in Getting Shane and Ilya to Finally Be Honest With Themselves and Each Other” and “Ranking the Liquids in Heated Rivalry from Least to Most Influential in Getting Shane and Ilya to Finally Be Honest With Themselves and Each Other” (including “compatible Corona” and “fentanyl”). It’s a rowdy, rambunctious show for all those taking their HR fandom to the next level.

The Heated Rivalry Comedy Show visits Wiseguys Gateway’s Showroom (194 S. 400 West) for one night only, Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $30; visit wiseguyscomedy.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

Wasatch Wildflower Festival

When you live in a climate with actual seasons, you can appreciate all the unique things that come with each of those seasons. In the Salt Lake Valley, that includes the riot of color that comes to the local mountains in the summer—an occasion that is celebrated every year by the events and presentations offered by the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation for the two weekends of the Wasatch Wildflower Festival.

The event is split up over four days, with a specific resort location as the focus for each day. The first weekend focuses on the Big Cottonwood Canyon resorts, with Brighton centered on Saturday, July 11 (in conjunction with the Brighton Days Festival) and Solitude Mountain Resort on Sunday, July 12. The second weekend moves to Little Cottonwood Canyon, with Snowbird on Saturday, July 18 and Alta on Sunday, July 19. Each day will feature guided walks and activities that are designed to be fun, family-friendly, non-commercial, free of charge and accommodated to a range of ability levels, from easy walks to more difficult. Volunteers share their knowledge and enthusiasm for an amazing variety of species on a variety of beautiful walks. The tours also reinforce careful stewardship and awareness of the ecology of the watershed environment.

The 2026 Wasatch Wildflower Festival runs July 11 – 19 at the Cottonwood Canyons resorts, with activities daily from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; prepare with sunscreen and weather-appropriate attire for the outdoor walks and experiences. All events are free, but registration is required; visit cottonwoodcanyons.org for registration and additional information. (SR)

Melissa Bunker: Dear Ted: How My Dog Taught Me to Be a Better Human @ King’s English

The relationships we have with our pets are always special, but we don’t necessarily have time to put those relationships—and what they have given us—into words. Local author Melissa “Missi” Bunker initially conceived of creating a coffee-table book filled with photos of her Black Lab-Weimaraner mix Ted Williams, but eventually that idea evolved into Dear Ted How My Dog Taught Me to Be a Better Human, a series of letters from Bunker to Ted exploring how the author believes that Ted has changed her for the better, from learning to live in the moment to loving unconditionally.

On the Author Unfiltered podcast, Bunker shared thoughts about a particular experience that highlighted her connection with Ted: “There was this time, I was just really going through a hard time. I remember sitting on the chair in my bedroom, and the lights were off and Ted was lying at my feet. I was crying, going through tissue after tissue. All of the sudden, Ted stood up, put his paws on my lap and gave me a kiss on the cheek—then went right back to lying at my feet. He had never done that before, and it was so sudden and unexpected. I just remember thinking, ‘I’m not alone; I’ve got him.’”

Melissa Bunker visits The King’s English Bookshop (1511 S. 1500 East) on Saturday, July 11 at 2 p.m. for an author meet-and-greet. The event is free and open to the public, but reservation is requested; books will be available for purchase at the event. Visit kingsenglish.com to RSVP or for additional event information. (SR)

The Laughing Place

Two new comedies turn theaters into rollicking fun.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

The Invite BBB 1/2

It’s clear that buried inside The Invite—director/co-star Olivia Wilde’s adaptation of the 2020 Spanish feature Sentimental—is a sincere “comedy of remarriage” waiting to emerge. Whether or not it succeeds in that genre might not matter when you’ve got moments where the big laughs are coming so fast, one on top of the other, that it becomes absolutely euphoric.

At the center is the clearly-strained relationship between married couple Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Wilde), with the sniping percolating as they prepare to host their upstairs neighbors, unconventional couple Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña

kind of weird and annoying because of the loud sex he hears directly above their bedroom, Angela appears to find them fascinating—perhaps for the same reasons.

The script by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones drops plenty of snippets of information about the possible reasons for Joe and Angela’s discontents, mostly having to do with the creative careers that both of them appear to have abandoned in favor of safe domesticity. The upshot of the story should be whether or not Joe and Angela can work things out—or, indeed, whether they should even try—but it kind of rushes through the steps in setting up the relationship’s balance of assets and deficits, depending a lot on the bookend sequences involving Joe and Angela sharing a moment together at Joe’s piano.

But none of that matters at the peak of the gathering’s craziness, beginning with a wonderfully awkward search for a corkscrew and building to a conversation about Hawk and Piña’s busy sex life where the jokes come in a fusillade that barely lets one come up for air, most notably Joe’s suggestion about how to determine the age of a person to whom they’ve all been obliquely referring. All four of the performances are terrific while working in very different registers: Wilde’s

reaction takes bouncing off Rogen’s adlibs and incredulous brutal honesty, with Cruz and Norton providing phenomenal straight-person counterpoint, up to and including a monologue by Norton that provides a kind of thematic anchor for what a healthy relationship should look like before it’s too late to make the effort. It’s worth noting that this might also be Wilde’s most accomplished directing effort, as she does interesting things with compositions that make great use of the positions of characters within the frame, or mirrors and windows offering unique perspectives. The ending aims for a particular kind of sweetness, but really, nothing is sweeter than the sound of people roaring in unison for several minutes straight. Available July 10 in theaters. (R)

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass BBB

David Wain’s signature features like Wet Hot American Summer and They Came Together have mostly looked for a thin genre armature on which to hang all the absurdist jokes they come up with, so why not The Wizard of Oz as that basic framing structure if the gags are going to be this solid? This is, after all, the story of

a girl from Kansas (Zoey Deutch) taking a trip to a strange wonderland—in this case, Los Angeles—on a mission with her best friend Otto (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) to get even with her beloved fiancé after he takes advantage of their agreed-upon “sex pass” with a celebrity. Along the way, Gail accumulates an entourage of friends (co-writer Ken Marino, Ben Wang and John Slattery, hilariously playing himself), while getting involved with a sortof-wicked-witch (Sabrina Impacciatore) trying to retrieve something she believes is rightfully hers … but really, the Oz parallels break down pretty quickly and are almost more distracting than useful comedically, as are a few of the plentiful cameos. But the jokes boast a pretty impressive batting average, from the wonderful use of over-the-top violence to a bodyguard whose persistent ominous threat is that he “will make you sick.” And of course, when Jon Hamm is central to your comedic premise, you’re going to wind up with some quality laughs. It’s all wonderfully silly and without much dead space, whether or not it particularly follows the yellow brick road. Available July 10 in theaters. (R) CW

THE LONG ROAD HOME

More and more Utahns like Bingham are leaving the country to gain access to ibogaine for conditions like PTSD, addiction and chronic pain. However, conservation advocates worry that as ibogaine gains popularity, the African communities that have safeguarded this medicine and the traditions surrounding it will be exploited.

Utahns are traveling abroad for ibogaine, while experts voice both optimism and caution around the emerging drug.

BY ZACH ABEND comments@cityweekly.net

Kyle Bingham’s wife noticed the change in him as soon as he returned home. A former Green Beret who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bingham was struggling with PTSD and had traveled from his home in Syracuse to a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, to try ibogaine in his search for relief.

Bingham said his PTSD felt like a state of “traumatic psychosis.” The hypervigilance that began during wartime had remained with him after he medically retired from the military, rendering him unable to feel a sense of security.

But the ibogaine treatment he underwent in the summer of 2025, coupled with a dose of 5-MeODMT, had a profound effect on Bingham.

“I was processing trauma I had held in for 30 years,” he said.

After the treatment, Bingham felt able to create new relationships with his environment. He began using Tibetan Buddhist meditation as a form of integration, as well as going to the gym and keeping a healthier diet.

“I could tell there were fundamental changes after I did the ibogaine,” Bingham noted.

Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic alkaloid extracted from the root of the iboga shrub, which is used as a sacrament by members of the Bwiti faith in Gabon.

At the same time, most of the veterans who travel abroad for ibogaine have already exhausted conventional treatments but are still suffering, according to Amber Capone, CEO of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions. For those patients, Capone said, going abroad to access ibogaine treatment is often a last resort.

“These veterans are looking for something that might finally address the root of what they’re carrying, not just covering up their symptoms,” she explained. “It is the option they turn to when everything else has failed and the stakes feel like life or death.”

For people who are struggling with substance abuse, their dependency can also become a lifeor-death struggle.

Michael Alfano, a former pharmaceutical rep who splits his time between St. George and Baja, Mexico, was a self-described, high-functioning alcoholic who was drinking two bottles of tequila every three days.

Alfano attempted quitting on his own, as well as through traditional rehab, to no avail.

“It felt like a boa constrictor around my neck,” Alfano remarked.

He tried ibogaine for the first time in the spring of 2025 at a Baja clinic. Despite not craving alcohol, he started drinking again three weeks later due to personal stressors.

Alfano then tried ibogaine again that summer, this time in conjunction with integration work, and a third time when he did iboga in the fall. He has been sober ever since.

When asked why he drank again after his initial

ibogaine session, Alfano said he wasn’t prepared the first time. He described his experiences with ibogaine as having a mystical tinge to them.

“There is a sacred component that can’t be replicated,” he said. “Iboga is God’s medicine.”

Similar to Alfano, Bingham’s journey wasn’t linear. About six months after trying ibogaine, Bingham said he started feeling the PTSD symptoms come back.

“Life still happens,” he said. “It can be easy to fall into old patterns.”

However, even when he now experiences PTSD symptoms, Bingham said that he is better equipped to move past them.

He said the difference is that he is more aware of his condition now and can change his headspace.

“Sometimes I can get out of it immediately,” Bingham said, “and sometimes it takes a day or two.”

In the Afterglow

Relapses occur because addiction is a complex condition that fluctuates over time, according to Molly Bobek, a licensed clinical social worker with the Partnership to End Addiction.

She believes the stigma around substance abuse is partly what makes relapse so beguiling.

For Bobek, the devastating effects of substance and alcohol abuse are driving people to pursue a treatment that as of yet lacks sufficient high-quality evidence behind it.

“We need more vigorous research on these emerging systems,” she stressed.

While Bobek agreed that the dramatic recovery stories involving ibogaine reflect how badly people want relief, she said there is a certain amount of selective reporting around ibogaine.

Because addiction is such a chronic problem, she said, continuing care is key.

“Long-term support includes therapy, medications and treatment for co-occurring mental health needs,” Bobek said.

Hannah Cross offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and has tried iboga.

Ashwin Budden said ibogaine has followed trends in medical tourism.

Amber Capone, CEO of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions

“I was processing trauma I had held in for 30 years.”—Kyle Bingham

Although currently illegal in the U.S., early clinical studies suggest that ibogaine demonstrates promise in helping people to get off—and stay off—of drugs and alcohol, as well as treating mild TBI symptoms. But ibogaine has also been known to trigger severe cardiac arrhythmias, which are sometimes fatal.

Because of ibogaine’s potential danger, Jonathan Dickinson, co-founder of Ambio Life Sciences, explained that clinicians must first screen all potential patients. He said that people with pre-existing heart conditions, compromised liver or kidney functions, or with drugs in their system would all be turned away from his clinic if his staff doesn’t have time to stabilize them.

Hard exclusions would include people with histories of heart attacks or heart damage.

“You need a holistic point of view,” Dickinson said. “You can’t escape that ibogaine is a spiritual and psychological experience for people.”

Some ibogaine users describe an “afterglow” that corresponds to what Dickinson explained was a period of neuroplasticity in the brain.

The neuroplasticity with ibogaine lasts a relatively long time, and it’s within this window that users are reportedly better able to let go of recurring thoughts, thus theoretically leading to a more functional routine.

If ibogaine were legalized in the U.S., Dickinson remarked, the way we think about healing would have to change.

He said the drug can help to improve personal agency, which can be harder to measure.

“For people who benefit from it, the ability to choose and be more self-directed is the thing that allows them to reduce the symptoms,” he said.

Hannah Cross, a licensed clinical social worker in Ogden who offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, said that a balanced perspective is necessary regarding ibogaine. “Some people think it’s a magic cure,” she said, “and some people just focus on the negative outcomes.”

Victims of Success

The growing number of Americans traveling abroad for ibogaine fits within the broader history of psychedelic tourism, according to Dr. Ashwin Budden, a medical anthropologist and research fellow in bioethics at Harvard Medical School.

In the past, people may have traveled to gain access to recreational drugs and psychedelic experiences. But now, he said, they’re seeking relief from medical conditions.

As part of this transition, iboga—the plant form of ibogaine—slowly gained popularity in underground communities and started booming in the 2010s, when luxury retreats began offering it in Costa Rica and Mexico as part of the global wellness industry. Budden said these retreats operate in a regulatory gray area, with inconsistent accountability measures, while their host governments are largely hands off.

“They are proliferating because of that regulatory environment,” Budden said. “While retreats offer structure, aesthetics and various degrees of harm mitigation that are appealing for clients or prospective clients, deaths and abuses have been reported and this is an on-going ethical concern.”

The use of psychedelics by Indigenous peoples has long had a significant spiritual component, according to Budden. But he noted that there are studies showing that better medical outcomes correlate with intense mystical experiences, transcendent reality and perceived encounters with the divine while on a psychedelic trip.

Bingham spoke of experiencing love, gratitude and joy in such quantities that it made up for everything. “I saw all my trauma and it was all swallowed up in love,” he said.

Cross, who took iboga in Mexico and gained relief from chronic pain caused by a neurological disorder, said that while under the influence, she spoke with her soul.

“She shared her purpose with me,” Cross said.

Interest in ibogaine is growing in the U.S., as reflected by President Donald Trump’s April executive order directing federal money toward ibogaine research. Bwiti communities, however, must cope with iboga’s growing popularity, according to Yann Guignon, founding member of Blessings of the Forest, a conservation organization working to protect iboga and Bwiti traditions in Gabon.

“As international demand increases, there is a real risk that iboga could become the victim of its own success,” he observed.

Iboga is part of a much larger cultural and spiritual heritage for communities in Gabon, and Guignon argued that any dialogue must include the communities that have safeguarded iboga.

The Bwiti ritual framework is vast and includes everything from the iboga plant itself to purification baths, music, dances and dietary practices.

“Protecting iboga ultimately means protecting an entire human and ecological ecosystem—not just a molecule,” Guignon said.

Rising demand has already contributed to increasing pressure on iboga resources, according to Guignon. Much of what he advocates is already in the Nagoya Protocol, an international agreement that seeks an equitable sharing of genetic resources with provider countries and Indigenous peoples. The U.S. is not a signatory to the Nagoya Protocol.

For those who seek out ibogaine, and for those who safeguard its use, the broader debate about efficacy and preservation coexists with deeply personal experiences.

Bingham said his PTSD symptoms aren’t as bad as they were before, and that he is seeing personal growth. “The medicine wore off but I stayed changed,” he said.

He said the feeling of being imprisoned is now gone. “I realized I’m good,” Bingham said. “I’m a good person. I knew it but didn’t feel it.” CW

Jonathan Dickinson stressed the need for patient screening before trying ibogaine.

Molly Bobeck said that more research is needed around ibogaine.

Michael Alfano said that ibogaine helped him to stop drinking.

A Food Dude Farewell

Thanks for all the flavorful memories.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Ihadn’t spent too much time thinking about the day when I would step away from my role as City Weekly’s food dude. Now that the time has come, I’m feeling unprepared for the emotions that are assailing me as I write this final dining contribution.

There are many things that I want to write. This has been a singular experience and opportunity I’ve had in exploring Utah’s rapidly evolving food scene, and I’m not sure there is enough room to properly chronicle my gratitude.

That said, let’s just keep this simple with a straightforward best-of retrospective, shall we?

The first dining feature I ever wrote was for MakanMakan in Sandy, and I’m happy to say this place is still open. I’ve been back several times and it’s remained a consistently good visit. Its curry goat remains as good as I remember, and was also one of those watershed dishes that helped me realize that goat is an excellent protein option with curry. In many ways, this first critical review set me up for the reviews that followed—I did my level best to seek out restaurants that offered cuisine and dishes that were rare for the Wasatch Front, and MakanMakan was the place that pushed me into the deeper world of South Asian foods that are available locally.

DINE

Writing for City Weekly also nabbed me a few local journalism awards, the first of which was for a piece I wrote about Chuck-A-Rama. This was the moment when I knew that I had found my voice as a food writer; something about exploring the wonders and tragedies of that legendary Utah buffet simply resonated with me. I suppose it kept me grounded more than anything. Over the course of my time at City Weekly, I had some of the best food I have ever eaten, but Chuck-ARama always helped me remember where my middle-class suburbanite culinary roots were planted.

Speaking of best food I have ever eaten, there are a few places that share that honor. My overall pick would be Central Ninth’s Junah; it continues to be one of the local places that surprise me every time I visit. If you’ve never visited, now is a great time to experience its blend of Japanese and Italian cuisine—itameshi as it’s called in Japan. Chefs Felipe Olivera and Hiro Tagai continue to invent and reinvent a menu that seamlessly melds those two culinary worlds together.

I’ve also got to hand it to Copper Onion and Chef Ryan Lowder for their role in Utah’s gastronomic evolution. Per my memory, Copper Onion was among the first downtown restaurants to really establish a strong culinary identity. This was a place that paired Chef Lowder’s creative vision with a vibe that was unique to Utah. This is the kind of local restaurant that pushed the needle for Utah’s foodie culture, and it continues to present the high-quality standards that the restaurant has had since it opened.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention Ruth’s Diner up in Emigration Canyon. The restaurant’s whole menu is great, and its mile-high biscuits remain the best breadbasket option you can get locally, but that chocolate malt pudding deserves a special mention. Among all

the kouign amanns, brulees, tortes, kolaches and other tasty desserts I’ve had in my travels, this is the one that I consistently crave. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why this particular dessert has maintained such a high spot on my list, and I think the short answer is that it’s perfect in every way.

Before I get to my big, blubbery goodbye, I wanted to take a quick moment to address the state of Utah food and restaurants—at least as far as I see it. We’ve had some pretty great James Beard Award nods, and the Michelin Guide will be publishing its Southwest Guide, which covers Utah restaurants, at the end of August, and I’m sure more than a few of our local favorites will make the guide. That said, I think it’s a safe bet that Utah will elevate its culinary status in the next few years. We’re not even close to the bigger metro areas in California, Illinois and New York, but I think Utah is shaping up to be a middleweight contender like Colorado and New Mexico.

While there is still so much to say about all the things that I have loved—and will continue to love—about our local food scene, it’s time to wrap things up. I’d like to thank everyone that I worked with at City Weekly. It’s a truly talented assembly of local writers who are passionate about the local community, and it’s an asset to our state. I’d like to thank the legions that keep Utah’s hospitality industry up and running. Restaurants, bars and hotels are not the easiest places in which to work, and Utah simply would not be what it is without all of these creative, passionate and hard-working people.

Finally, thanks to everyone who has ever read my coverage. It’s been an honor to share my stories with you, and I hope they’ve been a source of positive energy. Keep on eating local, my friends. I know I will. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Total JamnationFruited 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 Boots - Pink 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: Sake Barrel Aged Rice Lager

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: Cold Fusion Kölsch 16oz 4.7% ABV

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper helperbeer.com

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

On Tap: Sicilian Lemon Shandy

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, # 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: Mango Karma (Mango chai hard 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: America Hefe YeahAmerican Wheat

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 HopsWest 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: Smokeshow 9% ABV

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

On Tap: Blackberry Lime

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: Pucker? I Berry Know Her! (Lemon blueberry sour); The baskin (Tigers blood seltzer)

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

NEW: Seaside CitadelPineapple and passion fruit cider with a hint of sea salt | 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

BEER NERD

Not The Usual Suspects

Two ales that rely on the unusual.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Proper Brewing - Spruce Moose: This new pale ale arrives with a unique twist—the addition of spruce tips—and the result is a beer that feels both adventurous and deeply rooted in nature. In a style often dominated by citrusforward hops or tropical fruit character, this brew takes a different path—one that leads straight into the forest.

It pours a glowing golden-amber with light copper highlights and a soft white head that lingers nicely in the glass. The aroma is immediately inviting and distinct. Fresh spruce jumps out right away, carrying a vibrant evergreen character that feels bright, clean and unmistakably fresh. It’s the kind of aroma that instantly transports one outdoors.

The malt profile provides a strong backbone here, bringing a sweet base that gives the beer impressive balance. Rather than being overly dry or sharp, the sweetness offers support for the spruce and hops to express themselves without feeling harsh or aggressive.

Flavor follows the nose beautifully. Spruce is the first thing to hit the palate, and it comes across incredibly fresh and lively—it tastes like walking through a pine-covered mountain trail after a cool morning rain. The evergreen character feels natural and refreshing rather than overpowering.

As the beer opens up, the hop character adds another layer of complexity. Berry notes provide a subtle pop of fruit sweetness, while pine tones reinforce the forest-like experience. Together, the hops and spruce create a wonderfully cohesive flavor profile. The finish is crisp with lingering pine, soft berry notes and just enough bitterness to keep everything balanced.

Verdict: In the

Utah fire season, this beer feels almost poetic—it’s a fresh forest escape in liquid form.

Bewilder Brewing - French IPA: French ingredients don’t often headline an IPA, which is exactly what makes this beer so intriguing. Built entirely around ingredients sourced from France, this 6.5 percent IPA delivers something genuinely unique in a style that can sometimes feel overcrowded with familiar hop combinations. Instead of chasing loud tropical juice bombs or palatewrecking bitterness, this beer leans into subtlety, complexity and balance.

The grain bill features 100% Jehanne D’Arc Pilsner malt from a French maltster, laying down a clean and refined foundation. It pours a brilliant golden hue with a light haze and a tight white head. Visually, it’s inviting and elegant—bright, polished and fresh. The aroma sets the tone, and this is not your typical IPA nose. Rather than explosive citrus or dank resin, you’re greeted by a softer bouquet of berries, delicate botanicals, fresh-cut grass and woody cedar notes. It feels layered and sophisticated, almost like walking through the French countryside in early spring.

The hop bill—French Aramis, Barbe Rouge and Triskel hops from the Alsace region—brings a distinctive Old World character. The first sip offers a subtle mix of berry-like sweetness and herbal complexity, followed by grassy and lightly floral notes that keep evolving as the beer warms. There’s an earthy elegance here that rewards slow sipping. What really stands out is the finish.

A nice cedar-like woodiness from the Aramis hops lingers pleasantly, adding structure without overpowering the palate. The bitterness is restrained but purposeful, creating a crisp, relatively dry finish that keeps the beer refreshing from beginning to end.

Verdict: This IPA proves that a big flavor doesn’t always need big intensity; sometimes nuance wins. Vive la bière.

You can get 16-oz. cans to go, or stay in the brewery and enjoy for this Bewilder IPA. Spruce Moose is a 5.0 percent draft-only option in Proper’s pub, with crowlers to go.

As always, cheers! CW

Protect Your Loved Ones

OPENING SOON!

COMING JUNE2026

the BACK BURNER

BY AIMEE L. COOK

Renowned Salt Lake Chef Takes New Role in Park City.

Promontory, the area’s premier private mountain community, has appointed Chef Phelix Gardner as Chef de Cuisine of Sage, the exclusive Italian restaurant inside The Hills clubhouse. Gardner arrives with more than 30 years of experience. Born in Spain and classically trained, he sharpened his skills at Walt Disney World and the Peabody Orlando. He went on to help shape Utah’s dining scene, championing the farm-to-table movement with the acclaimed Pago Restaurant Group, the Spanish-inspired Finca and the Forbes Five-Star Grand America Hotel.

“What drew me to Promontory was the extraordinary sense of community,” said Chef Phelix. “During my first visit to Sage, I watched members circulating from table to table, sharing stories, connecting with friends, and enjoying wine together. It was clear that this is much more than a restaurant—it’s where sophisticated families gather, friendships are strengthened, and lasting memories are made. I immediately recognized what a privilege it would be to serve this community and help create experiences that make their time at Promontory truly special.”

Summer Sunday Brunch at St. Regis Deer Valley

The St. Regis Deer Valley has brought back Summer Sunday Brunch. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this summer, RIME Restaurant (srdvdining.com) opens its doors for a feast. Dine inside the restaurant or take in Park City’s stunning scenery on RIME’s patio while enjoying live music.

Executive Chef Matthew Fradera has curated an impressive buffet spread, including a seafood station loaded with jumbo shrimp, King crab legs and snow crab claws, plus a carving station featuring the chef’s weekly selection of grilled or smoked prime meats. Fresh salads and sweet pastries round things out. Prefer something smaller? A selection of small plates—think chicken and waffles, duck confit eggs Benedict and made-to-order omelets—are also on offer. Complete the experience with an iconic 7452 Bloody Mary, or a flight of three including the Red Snapper (New York, NY) and the Capital Mary (Washington D.C.). It’s priced at $85 per adult and $30 per child.

Provisions Bids Adieu

After 12 years, Provisions is closing its doors on July 3—a bittersweet moment for the local food community. The team hinted at an exciting new chapter on Instagram, so stay tuned for updates. What do you think they have in store?

Independence Day

Promoter/manager/marketer Ian Hiscock reflects on the growth of the SLC music scene.

BY ARICA ROBERTS comments@cityweekly.net

Over the years of interviewing countless DJs and producers in the Salt Lake City scene, one name tends to repeatedly come up as someone that every person should know: Ian Hiscock. He’s a man of many hats, with an incredible career in the local (and national) music industry. For the past 10 years, he was involved with marketing, public relations, artist relations and talent-buying for V2 Presents. Although his decade-long tenure with V2 has come to an end, Hiscock is currently focused on his own ventures, including an artist management company (Outwrld Artists), a marketing agency (Noteworthy HQ) and a new position as head of paid media for Las Vegas-based agency LV8. Starting out as a DJ and music producer, Hiscock began working in the industry in 2012. While a student at the University of Utah, he met Matt Williams, VIP & Client Relations Manager at Park City Live (now The Marquis), and told him: “I want to do this. I want to work in this industry. What do I need to do?” For years, Hiscock worked for Park City Live and Sky SLC, which led him to his position at V2 and hosting the iconic weekly Therapy Thursdays, and later on the additional Energi Wednesdays. These nights at Sky SLC were unique— they brought a bit of a rave vibe to the club and were full of the biggest names in the electronic music industry at Pierpont Avenue in downtown Salt Lake City, from bass-heavy artists like JOYRYDE to pro-

gressive house artists like Morgan Page. It was like the pre-weekend weekend party where one could show up and was guaranteed to see familiar, friendly faces.

Although that era of community for the SLC electronic music scene was magical and fulfilling, Hiscock says, “After six years of going to the club three nights a week, it’s nice to take a step back from it.”

Now, Hiscock is excited about the evolving Salt Lake music scene, noting the rise of independent promoters like BLAQ VOID and VS VBOVE SO BELOW that successfully capture the vibe of the old Energi Wednesdays, as well as the increased involvement of major entities like Live Nation and AEG, which he views as a positive development for the local ecosystem.

Regarding the large national promoters entering the Salt Lake market, Hiscock believes they don’t hold the same type of community vibe that an independent entity does.

“I think the more independent promoters will maybe even get more attention, because people want to support a more independent vibe,” he said.

As the local music scene is currently in the midst of a dynamic period of change, Hiscock explained, “I was with V2 for so long that I always looked at the whole scene through this lens of being with V2 ... it’s been really refreshing to not be associated with any one promoter in Salt Lake because I’m able to look at the scene in this more objective way.”

On the artist management side of the industry, Hiscock’s own background as a musician informed his professional philosophy in management and talent-buying. He prioritizes working with artists who had a unique sound and did not conform to popular trends.

“Something I always value with my management is artists who are not just trying to sound like everyone else,” he said. “[I value] people who really want to carve their own unique thing and do their own thing.”

MUSIC

He manages several artists, including local artists like SOUNDR and brotherand-sister duo Maplo (with fellow local artist manager, Skye Jefferies). One of the bigger names Hiscock manages, TINYKVT, is an example of an artist who built a career on a unique style of music, demonstrating that going “against the grain” could be a rewarding long-term strategy. And as someone who has booked both major and local artists in Utah for over a decade, he knows how to spot this type of unique talent.

Going forward, Hiscock expressed a strong interest in fostering community and education through panels and workshops, potentially in collaboration with the new collective and venue Atrxia CLTV, co-founded with SOUNDR and Ashes Bardole. This flexible location in the heart

of downtown functions both as a tattoo studio and event space, and is now open for pop-ups, shows, producer showcases and private events such as local producer showcases and DJ sets, art shows and gallery nights or brand and product launches. Helping to facilitate its opening and success is yet another project Hiscock has added to his already full plate, but he’s clearly energized by it all. And—best of all—he’s found ways to stay active in the local Salt Lake City music community. Stay updated on what he’s up to through Instagram: @ianjames_h.

“It’s nice to be doing other things now, and to be able to put more focus into my own things,” he said. CW

Ian Hiscock

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

MUSIC PICK S

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie @ The Great Saltair 7/10

Hip-hop, to me, is so much more than just music; it’s a reflection of emotion and thought put into song form. It isn’t always known to stray far from its current mold, but when it does, you get something fresh—such as A Boogie Wit da Hoodie. The approach by artist Julius Dubose (a.k.a. Boogie) is an interesting one. If you think of singing as matching lyrics with melody, well, then his process of rapping matches lyrics with rhythm. It’s conducive to applying more focus on the former in the style of many musicians, which is good, especially in this time of the homogenization of sounds and beat structure. “I listen to a beat for 10 seconds, and if I don’t like it, I play the next one. I keep on going until I find the beat,” Dubose told Interview Magazine. “I put it on Pro Tools, then I record melodies. If I feel like I could do better, I pick it up later, and go back to it. I write and I freestyle. It depends on the type of song, really.” It’s not all cut/paste, move, stretch and pitch-correct; his newest EP released earlier this year, Before Artistry, feels balanced and alive. Call it a hors d’oeuvre, if you will, as the main course of the full-length Artistry drops later in 2026. Catch this act at The Great Saltair on Friday, July 10. Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $62.25 at eventim.us. As of press time, this show is sold out, but check back for last-minute availability. (Mark Dago)

UPCOMING SHOWS

7/9 7/10 7/11 7/14 7/14 7/16

Icarus & Witch Bitch: Wild West Tour

No Motive

Flourescents

@5:30 Whitney Fenimore

@ 8:30 JZAC x Dylan Owen

Danbert Nobacon

MUSIC PICK S

Sunfish @ The Urban Lounge 7/10

Back in town from their Western States tour, Sunfish celebrates their album release at The Urban Lounge on July 10. The band has been creating music together since 2021, with their first full-length album Sunfish For President. Now on their third release, it only goes up from here for them. Sunfish is comprised of locals Carter Sears (guitar and vocals), Courtney Lane (keys and vocals), Mikkel Erickson (drums) and Aveski Davis (bass), who all originally met at the Velour Music Lounge. Now, they’ve reached audiences across the country with their unique alternative sound, and with their upcoming release “Live This Lie,” it’s only growing. In likeness to an afternoon full of frantic activity, their sound has been described as “glitch grunge,” venturing across the spectrum of rock, pop and psychedelic sounds. They don’t fit in a box, and don’t plan on doing so. And if you enjoy bands like IDKHow and Dead Poets Society, then Sunfish might be just the thing for you. Their discography is perfect for a summer evening with friends and a drink in one’s hand, along with smooth moves on the dance floor. If that sounds good to you, join Sunfish and celebrate the album’s release on Friday, July 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are limited, and you must be 21+ to enter. They’re $12.15 ahead of the show and $14 at the door. Find yours now at 24tix.com. (Laney Hansen)

MUSIC PICK S

Borgore @ VIP Event Center 7/11

A man of many talents, Borgore (Asaf Borger), is an electronic dance music producer, DJ, singer-songwriter and rapper. His AMF Vol. 5 show is part of the series for local promotion company VS VBOVE SO BELOW, which is known for bringing bass artists to Salt Lake City. Borger is no exception. Although he’s a classically-trained musician from Tel Aviv, Borger created his own mini genre within the bass scene called “gorestep”—a mix of death metal and electronic music with aggressive basslines and explicit lyrics. Check out his collaborations like the 2012 song “Decisions” with Miley Cyrus and the 2015 hit “Forbes” with Oakland’s G-Eazy. The latter song is an EDM trap anthem that gave Borger worldrenowned success, but maybe even more impressive is his longevity. Perhaps it’s the playful nature of his music—not to be taken so seriously—mixed with a lot of swagger that makes him a conversation piece and gives him a timeless sound in such a tough industry. The show lineup also includes a surprise special guest, PNTHER back-toback with Kattana, 6IX$SECT and ASK. This 21+ event is at the VIP Event Center (1845 South 300 West) on Saturday, July 11. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9:00 p.m. Tickets cost $38.66. Go to eventliveus.com (Arica Roberts)

Kaleo @ Red Butte Garden 7/12

Iceland is perhaps not the first country that comes to mind with regard to music, but the North Atlantic island country has a rich and vibrant musical scene. Björk was making a mark on Icelandic music charts as early as 1977 when she was only 11 years old. She found worldwide success with the Sugarcubes, and an intriguing solo career that continues to this day. Equally boundary-pushing and edgy in their own way are Sigur Rós, recipients of countless awards and nominations since their start in 1994. A relatively recent addition to the Icelandic rock and rock-adjacent scene, Kaleo debuted their blues-flavored music with a self-titled 2013 album. Kaleo went Platinum in Iceland, and its follow-up, 2016’s A/B, went Platinum there, as well as in the

United States, France and Canada. That album’s breakout single, “Way Down We Go,” charted in nine countries, establishing the band as an international success.

The band relocated to the U.S. in 2016 and ramped up their touring calendar. Kaleo’s Icelandic-meets-American blues style has earned the group a loyal following. The band’s most recent release is 2025’s Mixed Emotions. With opening act Dawes, Kaleo brings its Way Down We Go Tour to Red Butte Garden on Sunday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $72 and available from etix.com. (Bill Kopp)

Old Crow Medicine Show @ Gallivan Center 7/13

Kicking off the Salt Lake City Twilight Concert Series is the six-piece Americana band Old Crow Medicine Show. And nothing could start things off better than the tie between a banjo and a fiddle. Making music together since 1998, when they were busking in front of grocery stores and playing open mics, the band has revived banjo-picking and swing, and is bringing their spunk to the center of Salt Lake City.

From their first chart-topping, self-titled record to their latest release, 2026’s Union Made, the band has been the blueprint for many indie-folk bands that followed, including Mumford and Sons. And with popular tracks like “Wagon Wheel” and “Methamphetamine”, it’s no wonder their mark hasn’t left the scene. From the punk influences to the Americana bluegrass backing the band received from acts like Bob Dylan and Doc Watson, they’ve grown into a newer rising scene with artists like Molly Tuttle, Jesse Welles and Maggie Rose, who are all featured on Union Made Now on tour, they’ve made Salt Lake City one of their stops across the Western States with support from Big Richard and local musician Michelle Moonshine. So bring your bluegrass spirit and grab your tickets now for Old Crow Medicine Show on Monday, July 13, at 6 p.m. at the Gallivan Center. Tickets are $24.23 ahead of show and $29.46 on the day-of. Find them now at 24tix.com. (Laney Hansen)

Old Crow Medicine Show

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

There are only two types of humans, right? Some of us serve beauty, truth and goodness, while the rest pledge their allegiance to illusions, lies and shadows. Our planet is now caught in a colossal showdown between these two sides. And it’s high time for you to align yourself with one or the other. Just kidding! The truth is far messier and more interesting: Every one of us is a blend of luminosity and ignorance. And now is a perfect moment to study how those two currents move within you. When you clearly see how you contribute to the murky jumble, your commitment to love, harmony and justice will soar.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

You’ll move with style and purpose if you take quick jaunts, dare gentle risks and make a few nimble leaps of faith. You’ll go awry and astray if you wander too far afield, chase swaggering adventures or try vaulting across yawning chasms. Keep it light, sharp and intuitive, Taurus. Refrain from lugging heavy emotional baggage or drifting into daydream limbo. It’ll be wise to trust your sprightly impulses, but foolish to dissect them so ruthlessly that the magic leaks out. The color amber and the number three will be your allies. Somber gray and the number four will not. Align with sly visionaries and soulful realists but sidestep bitter contrarians and nostalgic clingers.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

I swear I’m smarter in some places than in others. My intelligence soars in Barcelona, Kyoto, Aix-en-Provence, France, and Florence, Italy. But I seem dull-witted in Munich, Moscow and Washington, D.C. Even in Northern California, my long-time home, some areas bring out the best in me. I feel mediocre on Valencia Street in San Francisco, for instance, whereas I’m extra wise in downtown Berkeley. Why is this? The branch of astrology known as astrocartography says that my strengths are more likely to shine in certain spots than others. In the coming weeks, Gemini, I urge you to experiment with the possibility that this may be true for you, as well. Wander far and wide. Find out where you feel most aligned with your deep, bright, genuine self.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean change their songs over the years. New phrases can cross thousands of miles as other whales take up and transform them. Researchers don’t know why, but the pattern is clear: The whales value novelty even in their ancient rituals. They create an evolving musical tradition. Consider what this practice might suggest for your own relationship with the past, Cancerian. The memories and patterns you’re carrying don’t have to remain frozen. You can honor your history while remixing it, adding new verses, and changing the key. What needs to be preserved isn’t the exact form but the living spirit.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Leo-born oceanographer Marie Tharp created the first comprehensive maps of the ocean floor. Her work was pivotal in proving theories about plate tectonics. She did much of this work in the 1950s, when women weren’t even allowed aboard research vessels. She had to rely on data collected by others, never seeing the terrain she mapped. But her limitation became her advantage; distance allowed her to perceive patterns that field researchers missed. I suspect that you, too, are working with incomplete information, Leo. Does this disqualify you from drawing conclusions? No! I believe your inability to access certain details will compel you to see larger patterns. What you’re missing might be precisely what enables you to see what others can’t.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

The “problem” confronting you right now is unusual: Your vision is too sharp, your thinking too precise, and your words too unambiguous. This would usually be good news to celebrate, but at the moment it’s blocking you from noticing the subtle openings life is presenting. Those portals may only reveal themselves if you soften your intense

scrutiny and call on a creative, blurry logic. It’s like how, at night, you sometimes see more clearly when you peer from the edges of your vision rather than staring straight ahead.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This is a perfect moment to express your unique power more than ever before. I invite you to act with conviction, assert your influence and claim what you’ve earned. For best results, clarify your ambitions and assert authority. Write down a vow or two. Don’t wait for approval from anyone higher up, and don’t waste time wondering whether destiny is on your side. The succulent opportunities aren’t somewhere else or someday later. They’re here and now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

I’m exultant when a vigorous bike ride up the trail of my local mountain leaves me so cleansed and energized that a flash of truth strikes and instantly dissipates the illusions I’ve been clinging to. I get a delightful shock when, while wandering through a city’s maze of asphalt and litter, a sudden breeze carries the earthy aroma of a rebellious garden. I love it when the reckless choices of misguided leaders jolt my community into doubling down on our quest for audacious harmony, inventive affection, and untamed wisdom. How about you, dear Scorpio? Where do you search for your awakenings and salvations? Keep your inner radar tuned; they’re circling close.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Sagittarian physicist Freeman Dyson (1923–2020) proposed that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations might build megastructures around stars to capture their energy. These “Dyson spheres” would be detectable from Earth as unusual infrared signatures. We haven’t found any yet, but his idea revolutionized how we think about looking for alien intelligence. Moral of the story: Valuable contributions can come from inventing the framework for how to search for unknown things. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, you might not solve problems, but you could redesign the questions. You may not find the answers, but you could create better tools for exploration.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Do you have a muse? If not, please find one. You shouldn’t go a day without a provocative, inspiring presence to stir your imagination and drive you deliciously wild. If you already have a muse and that genius has been faithfully fueling your creative fire, bestow a reward. Give a gift or blessing that provides a boost to your muse. And if your existing muse has grown quiet, go off on an adventure together. Dream up plans to stimulate the bursts of kaleidoscopic energy that you two are capable of generating.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

In some monastic traditions, practitioners engage in “work prayer.” They transform ordinary labor into spiritual practice not by thinking holy thoughts while working, but by bringing complete presence and fond attention to ordinary labors. Chopping vegetables becomes meditation. Sweeping floors becomes devotion. The sacredness arises from their wholehearted attitude. This would be an excellent experiment for you to try, Aquarius. Divine solace and inspiration will arrive as you perform your daily duties with verve and gratitude. Try this: For a few days or even two weeks, approach routine duties and familiar obligations with a ceremonial reverence. Be joyful for the privilege of being alive in the most ordinary ways.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

You’ve entered a phase when your magnetism and charisma will expand as you focus on ruminating deeply about what’s most meaningful to you. Seeking out new teachers and fresh lessons will bring lucky breaks and helpful influences into your sphere. Each fresh insight will polish your allure, and every surge of curiosity will add to your glow. Be extra

and ultra smart: Cosmic energies will work in your favor as you weave your id and intellect together.

urban LIVING

Ten-hut!

As of this writing, there are several active wildfires burning across Utah and we have the sad distinction of being home to the largest active forest fire in the country, as tens of thousands of acres burn in the Cottonwood Fire in Beaver County. Although the capital city has had a week of pretty clear skies, our hearts go out to our fellow Utahns who have had to evacuate and those who have lost property and livestock to the flames.

Gov. Spencer Cox banned fireworks in the state last month. But am I the only one asking why he doesn’t call out the National Guard to help in the battle? According to the Legislature, the Utah National Guard has about 8,182 members, with 1,595 being full-time military, 6,039 part-time and 518 civilian employees, operating 30 armories in 27 communities across the state.

Cox has the power to order them to assist in fighting wildfires if a state of emergency is declared. In July of 2025, he signed an executive order in response to the state’s worst fire season on record and authorized the deployment of the Guard to help protect lives, homes, livestock and water supplies.

Remember the Monroe Canyon Fire that burned more than 37,000 acres and destroyed seven cabins and homes? There were 693 fires that year here, with four of them larger than 100,000 acres of destruction. Cox’s order cited 22 Red Flag Warning days, with high winds, low humidity and dry fuels as major contributing factors.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Exasperated sound

5. Blundering

10. Spheres

14. Emmy winner Falco

15. In a regal manner

16. Brand of bubbly, familiarly

17. Like a moray

18. Begin to wither

19. Ready, willing, and ___

20. Well-hidden royal residence?

23. Singer Carly ___ Jepsen

24. How detectives might investigate

25. Report that a torso is lacking color?

31. Sister of Kim and Kourtney

32. Oboe piece

33. Pledging site

37. Blue-green shades

38. Judge who presided over the Simpson trial

39. Gut ___

40. Castle-building material

41. “Where have you ___?”

42. Feet in a meter?

43. Flower holder that hides easily in your hand?

45. Key of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1

49. “What have we here?”

50. Danish film director who’s more minimalist?

57. “All right”

58. Checkout line

59. Acronymic exclusionary anxiety

60. English logician with a diagram named for him

61. Airport vehicles

62. Joule or ampere

63. Idle from Monty Python

64. “¿Cómo ___?” (“How are you?” in Spanish)

65. After the expected time

DOWN

I’ve seen responses by the nation’s governors to send out their Guard troops in times of floods and hurricanes, and I personally think it’s time Cox formally issued a similar emergency order that would be the legal basis for sending out the troops.

Good heavens, I’ve seen the massive amount of equipment our Guard has when I’ve driven by many of the armories, including so many kinds of dozers, tractors, graders, backhoes, loaders and scrapers, which could help create fire breaks that can intercept and stop fires in their paths and help minimize the destruction.

My heart broke last year when I watched the news of the Palisades, Eaton, Madre, Garnet and Salt Fires raging in California. Tens of thousands of homes, businesses and structures were lost, affecting so many people’s lives.

Animals were affected as well: both elderly and newborn creatures caught in the flames were killed or severely burned; others died from smoke inhalation and heat stress. Habitats were destroyed and so many animals lost their food, shelter and breeding grounds. I saw one particular news story about a care center set up to treat burned creatures like raccoons, skunks, wild cats and baby bears—totally heartbreaking.

I’m glad the governor at least called a state of emergency and banned fireworks. Sorry vendors, but this isn’t your year to sell a fortune in explosives. This is a year that all of us need to be safe and play safe. ■

Mallon at the opening of the 20th century

10. Nebraska’s biggest city

11. Follower of Asimov’s laws

12. Casus ___ (war justification)

13. Precipitous

21. They may be judged on “The Great Canadian Baking Show”

22. Come to a halt

25. B’way box office buys

26. Actress Seehorn of “Pluribus”

27. ___ Bator, Mongolia

28. Halle Bailey role

29. “Don’t care if they do”

30. “Jurassic Park III”

star Tea

33. Tasty

34. Italia’s capital

1. Permeate gradually

2. Notion

3. Fish feature

4. Nickelodeon show whose title character has a football-shaped head

5. Heavily committed

6. Sushi seaweed

7. Dark, poetically

8. Story framework

9. Disease forever associated with Mary

35. Some Wall St. traders

36. Subdue with a zap

39. Quarrel

41. Style of J.S. Bach

43. First-person or thirdperson, briefly

44. At a minimum

45. Baseball catcher

46. Crafter

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve

47. Resident of Tehran

48. Joey Fatone’s boy band

51. Short pencils

52. Amanda of “Brockmire”

53. Glow

54. Burial isle of many Scottish kings

55. Send out 56. Memory method

NEWS of the WEIRD

Toddlers, Man

Gracie, a 3-year-old giraffe who recently wandered from her enclosure in Texas Hill Country, has returned home safely, the Associated Press reported on June 26. The 1,200-pound giraffe had gone missing for two weeks before being spotted about four miles south of her home, Cedar Hollow Ranch, in Real County. The area is so remote that parts of it cannot be reached by car, sparking searches conducted by helicopter and drones. Since Gracie was within half a mile of water and surrounded by vegetation, and was found on uninhabited private property, her owner had a little time to formulate the best method for bringing her back home. “We didn’t bother her,” owner Vick Jones said. “She’s got water. She looked in really good shape.” The rescue operation took some careful planning that included coordinating with veterinarians to safely sedate the giraffe before moving her to two different trailers to drive her back to the ranch. Jones believes Gracie left from an area of the ranch that didn’t have a gate. The other giraffes at the ranch had never wandered over there, and there was no gate because installing one would have meant jackhammering through rock to put it up. After Grace’s great escape, though, Jones has plans to build a fence.

Water Baby

On Saturday, June 27, a woman went into labor at the Wet ‘N Wild Emerald Pointe Waterpark in Greensboro, North Carolina, People reported. According to one witness, the delivery happened in the women’s bathroom. “Just casually leaving Wet ‘N Wild today and they start bringing a lady out of the bathroom with a baby,” he said on social media. “They delivered her baby in the bathroom. The whole park clapped and she rolled off on the stretcher.” A spokesperson for the Guilford County Emergency Medical Services said that both mother and baby are doing well. “Our Paramedics, advanced EMTs and EMTs are always ready to meet patients where they are, and sometimes that includes a water park on a hot summer day. Emergencies do not wait for ideal circumstances, and neither do we,” said Scott Muthersbaugh, the public information officer for Guilford County Emergency Services.

Oops

An unfortunate translation error raised some eyebrows in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. According to UPI, posters meant to reference “public squares” were posted in both English and French around the Centretown area to promote the city’s “Uncommon Spaces” initiative. However, the French version of the signs—”Placettes Pubiques”—was missing a key letter in the second word, making it read as “pubic squares” instead. The signs were taken down, but not before making the rounds on social media. “This was an unintentional translation error that made its way into production,” said Sabrina Lemay, executive director of the Centretown Business Improvement Area. “As soon as we became aware of it, we took steps to have it corrected.” City officials were not involved in the mistake, and city councilor Stephanie Plante expressed frustration over the ordeal. “We want to attract Francophones. We want people from Gatineau to come here and participate in our events,” she said. “I think they’ll think we’re taking this a bit lightly when we make mistakes like ‘publiques’ without the ‘l.’”

Roast Beef With a Side of Herpes

Former Arby’s manager Amanda Hendricks, 38, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, has been charged with poisoning food/medicine with intent to injure after spitting into a customer’s sandwich, causing the customer to contract herpes. On June 22, The Smoking Gun reported that Jennica Church, 38, contracted oral herpes, with symptoms such as cold sores and painful lesions, after consuming one of her 4-for-$10 roast beef sandwiches. The remaining three were shared with family members, who did not get sick. When Church’s daughter heard rumors of Hendricks bragging that she had spit in Church’s food, Church contacted police, who served a warrant to Arby’s for their surveillance tapes. In the affidavit, Officer Zane Mann described the video: “Amanda has the meat in her hands and lifts it to neck level and leans her head down and you can see the saliva leave her mouth and go into the sandwich.” When he contacted Hendricks about coming to the station for an interview, she told him she couldn’t get there due to lack of transportation, but she confessed anyway. “While speaking with Amanda, she made the utterance that I have the footage, and she was not going to waste my time,” Mann said. “Yes, she did it.” Church has filed a lawsuit against Hendricks and Arby’s.

Smooth Criminal

On June 24, Nadi Jabari, 46, was arrested in Hillsborough County, Florida, after he tried to impersonate law enforcement and conduct a traffic stop, complete with the familiar red and blue flashing lights, WKRN reported. Unluckily for him, the car he pulled over was an undercover vehicle that belonged to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The detectives quickly turned the tables and conducted a traffic stop of their own on Jabari. Their search of his black Chevrolet Suburban yielded an illegal emergency light installation, an emergency light bar and a firearm. Jabari has been charged with false impersonation, unlawful use of blue light and possession of a firearm. “When someone falsely presents themselves as law enforcement, they threaten the trust that exists between deputies and the community we serve,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “This individual’s actions were dangerous, deliberate, and illegal. We will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to impersonate a deputy and use that deception to intimidate or endanger others.”

Na Na Na Na Na Batman

An anonymous vigilante in Lagos de Moreno in Mexico’s Jalisco state has been duct-taping alleged thieves to lamp posts, The Independent reported on June 29. The first victim was found on June 13. Since then, police have discovered four more individuals who were bound and taped. Some showed visible signs of battery. Others had mustaches, cat whiskers and the word “thief” drawn onto their faces. Pink signs above the victims indicated that the alleged thieves had been punished for stealing motorcycles. Police are investigating the alleged crimes as they search for the person who is responsible for tying the men up. And Mexican journalist Luis Cardenas has dubbed the perpetrator, the “Batman of Lagos de Moreno.”