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CONTENTS COVER STORY

CAPITOL CAPERS Bills that may have slipped right by us during Utah’s highly unusual 2021 legislative session By Benjamin Wood

Cover illustrated by Derek Carlisle

7 OPINION 19 DINE 26 A&E 30 MUSIC 36 CINEMA 37 COMMUNITY

2 | MARCH 18, 2021

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STAFF Publisher PETE SALTAS Executive Editor JOHN SALTAS News Editor JERRE WROBLE Arts & Entertainment Editor SCOTT RENSHAW Music Editor ERIN MOORE Listings Desk KARA RHODES

Contributors KATHARINE BIELE, ROB BREZSNY, JENNY POPLAR MIKE RIEDEL, ALEX SPRINGER, BENJAMIN WOOD Production Art Director DEREK CARLISLE Graphic Artists SOFIA CIFUENTES, CHELSEA NEIDER

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SOAP BOX Remembering Tony Caputo

A food legend. Tony will be missed by our community. Sending lots of love all around! @VERTICAL_DINER_SLC Via Instagram Tony Caputo was such a character! He loved the City Weekly and was so proud of his Best of Utah awards for Best Sandwiches. One of the conditions when I sold him ads for City Weekly was he wanted all the Best of Utah plaques. Back then, we just started making them, and we were behind in distributing. Problem solved = advertiser and friend for life. CHRISTA ZARO @PHILLYTOSLC Via Instagram Our deepest condolences. Grateful for his hospitality and contributions to our community. May his memory be eternal. @NICHOLASANDCO Via Instagram

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So sorry to hear the loss of such an amazing man. My heart goes out to you and your family, sending love and prayers. @LINNYPED Via Instagram So very sorry for his family’s loss. I don’t know what to believe about the afterlife, but I do like to imagine Tony raising a glass, wherever he is. JODI NELSON Via Facebook He was a good man, one of the best bosses. Just an all-around kind person. My heart goes out to you guys. MICHELLE CARFARO Via Facebook

A Plea for Accountability and Justice

With the murder of my son, when the justice system failed my son and his family and friends, I learned firsthand about qualified immunity and Monell Doctrine.

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[Editor’s note: Qualified immunity shields government entities (i.e., police, district attorneys and judges) from civil liability for violating a civilian’s constitutional rights in most circumstances.] The only consolation the state can offer for such a loss is justice. It is a stinging addition to my grief that justice was far from the highest priority in the investigation and prosecution of my son’s murder (from the attorneys who proposed an unjust plea arrangement to the judge’s clerk being the defendant(s)’ cousin, a board of pardons member who was a prosecuting attorney in the murder case—a conflict of interest!). I suffered greatly through this system from the District Attorney’s Office, the 3rd District Court, Victims’ Advocates and the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. You can read about it on my website: utahsdegradingjusticesystem.com/ documents.html Under these unjust doctrines, the

power of the district attorney without accountability keeps the authority in question and the “immunity shields” in place. Qualified immunity and the Monell doctrine—both court-invented doctrines—will never provide a sense of closure or justice in the murder of my son. Prosecutorial immunity doesn’t appear in the U.S. Constitution nor in any law passed by Congress. I believe it contradicts section (1983) of the Civil Rights Act which states “every person” who violates the rights of another “shall be liable to the party injured.” The abolishment of prosecutorial immunity, qualified immunity and the Monell doctrine is needed to restore Americans’ ability to obtain relief when state and local officials violate their legal constitutionally secured rights. NANCY JOHNSON South Salt Lake

THE BOX

What are the best/worst commercials you’ve seen? Katharine Biele One more commercial about how beautiful life is after you’ve taken some damned drug for some horrible disease and thank God AstraZeneca is there to help if you can’t afford the exorbitant price ... well, it’s enough to make you want to slit your wrists. Benjamin Wood Back in 2004, Quiznos launched their “Spongmonkey” ad campaign, and my nightmares have been haunted ever since. Mike Ptaschinski Best: Fruit-of-the-Loom spot back in the ’80s with Teri Garr. What a doll! Even without sound they would have sold out. Worst: Anything by Progressive or Geico. I cannot even imagine the ones that don’t make it to a shoot. Tom Metos Liberty Mutual Insurance commercials with the emu. Stupid waste of 30 seconds of my life that I will never get back. Paula Saltas Best: Betty White Snickers commercial is a classic. Worst: The Matthew McConaughey Lincoln car commercials are so boring, and I just don’t get them. Especially the one with his stare down with the bull in 2014. Ellen DeGeneres did a great spoof on it, which you’ll find on YouTube. Eric Granato They are all bad and way too loud.

HITS&MISSES BY KATHARINE BIELE @kathybiele

MISS: Leave Lawmaking to the Pros

HIT: ‘Folks, Don’t Be Jerks’

MISS: Trump’s Stolen Valor

How many times have we said, “It’s enough!”? Climate activists continue their work, trying to get global leaders to hear and understand. Our water, air, land and lives— all are at risk in this environment of denialism. Join climate activists around the world as they raise their voices to draw attention to this dire and ongoing crisis. Demand that your representatives pay heed before it’s too late. On the occasion of this worldwide event—Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike—you will march to the Capitol steps where there will be loud and persuasive calls to action. Social distancing and masks are still required. Washington Square Park, 451 S. State, Friday, March 19, 10 a.m., free. http://bit.ly/37Z0IYj

Youth and the Environmental Crisis

It’s apparent that our seasoned and wilting adults are not going to lead us out of this growing environmental crisis. “We must start seeing youth as the leaders and teachers that they are in this movement! The knowledge that they possess is immense, and we not only can learn so much from them but can follow their lead into a truly sustainable and equitable future for all,” say sponsors the Sierra Club and ASUU. Join Where We Go From Here: Community Conversations With Utah Leaders, an action-focused panel of youth environmental leaders who will open your eyes to the kind of community action that needs to happen now. Virtual, Thursday, March 25, 6 p.m., free. http://bit.ly/2ONR03Y

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The Quake and Future Quakes

If the climate doesn’t get you, it could be that an earthquake will. Remember a year ago when a 5.7 quake struck Magna in the early hours? Aftershocks are still being felt by some, but analysis is ongoing because of the many faults along the Wasatch Front. While the Magna earthquake hasn’t changed the long-term probabilities of a large magnitude earthquake along the Wasatch Front, it’s significant and important to understand the functioning of earthquakes and the realworld dangers. Magna Earthquake—One Year Later offers three speakers who will provide information on how their world engaged in the earthquake response from the geological, historic preservation and municipal management of the disaster, what we learned, and where we go from here. Virtual, Thursday, March 18, 6 p.m., free. http://bit.ly/3qCgOgZ

—KATHARINE BIELE

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For the past four years, refugees have been systematically denied entry to the United States. There are still many living in Utah after fleeing their home countries. The Refugee Experience in Utah will guide you through the experiences of several new Americans as they struggle to make Utah their home. You will first watch a short PBS Utah documentary, Finding Home: Utah’s Refugee Story, after which a panel of experts will discuss the stories and talk about how to create a better community for our newest neighbors. Virtual, Wednesday, March 24, 7 p.m., free. http://bit.ly/30Cceoj

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The Refugee Experience

Meanwhile, U.S. “Rep.” Burgess Owens thinks we’re not giving enough credit to the guy who used to be president, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. You know who I mean—the man who suggested we light up our asses and sip bleach. They guy who said COVID would just magically go away and who stealthily got vaccinated before leaving office in January 2021 without a peep to the public. Dr. Anthony Fauci is simply perplexed because almost half of Trump supporters won’t get the vaccine. And Fauci wants Trump to urge his supporters to get vaccinated. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Fauci said he had some influence on Trump initially but lost it after Trump decided to “essentially act like there was no outbreak.” While Owens must be reading the New York Post, Forbes magazine sets the record straight. “Donald Trump did not invent or develop the vaccines to combat COVID-19, despite his claim he should receive the credit. Ironically, immigrants played the crucial role in developing the vaccines, a group Trump as president has vilified.”

Climate Strike

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Gov. Spencer Cox came out fighting, telling the good people of Utah not to be jerks, to act with respect and go to their own corners. While we like to see Cox flexing his muscles, this was pretty much a milquetoast reaction to Utahns, yes, acting like jerks. The Legislature is ready to just end any damned mask mandate, while The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen sums it up as selfishness. “Hundreds of thousands of people just decided not to wear them—‘my mask protects you, your mask protects me’ wasn’t reason enough,” he wrote. It’s freedom, baby. Freedom to stick it to your neighbor, friends and families.

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As Utah Sen. Mike Lee keeps reminding us, the U.S. is not a democracy. What he neglects to tell us is that totalitarianism is right around the corner. What exactly is it about our representatives and their understanding of “representation?” This does not have to be a partisan issue, but in fact Republicans are pushing hard around the country to keep citizens out of the lawmaking business. The Salt Lake Tribune ran an eye-opener about the secretive national group behind legislation to make ballot initiatives harder. Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, listened to a couple of whiners rather than looking at the real effect of his bill. Were a few citizens really deceived into signing a petition and did it make a difference? Did they not want expanded Medicaid because they didn’t need it? Idaho citizens demanded it, The Guardian wrote, when 70,000 people were left uncovered in the state. “What is clear … is that, as citizens increasingly make use of their state’s constitutional right of initiative, legislators throughout the country now find themselves engaged in a tug-of-war for power with the very people they represent,” Law360.com warns.

CITIZEN REV LT

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OPINION

Blue Plate Blues R

in News Orleans), I visited the “new” Sugar House and will forever mourn the loss of Experienced Books, Java Jive, the Blue Boutique, the fortune teller and the creek adjacent to the library being channeled to make way for big-box stores. At least the Sprague Library is still intact despite its basement being inundated by a flood in 2017. My sister-in-law recently posted a listing for a threebedroom house on Browning Avenue selling for $710,000. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Isn’t $710,000 what you’d pay for a McMansion on the East Bench or beach-front property? How are businesses like Java Jive and Experienced Books supposed to survive in a city where a fixer-upper sells for nearly a million dollars? I have heard the same smug refrain from the most privileged among us: “Just get a job that pays more money.” That would be nice—but wages in many industries are hardly keeping up with the cost of living. We can’t all be lawyers, doctors and tech wizards. The people who stock our groceries, serve our food and fix our fancy cars and houses are just as important to the fabric of Salt Lake City as those who make six-figure salaries. What type of quality of life do we really have if businesses like Blue Plate Diner disappear to make room for yet another round of garish condos? I understand that change is inevitable—and businesses naturally come and go. But what happens when rising rents make it impossible for a new mom and pop eatery to open in Blue Plate Diner’s space? Meet your new chain eatery. Does a city populated entirely by soulless condos, restaurant chains and big-box stores sound remotely appealing? A similar gentrification process is taking place in my adopted home of New Orleans. I cringe every time I park my bike next to the tacky condos springing up in the Bywater next to my favorite library. The difference between Salt

Lake City and New Orleans is that in NOLA, people fight harder to preserve old buildings. Also, small businesses are the lifeblood of the community. Salt Lake City is too eager to let money talk when it comes to new developments and the fate of old buildings. San Francisco also allowed money to talk—and now that once-vibrant artistic hub is an astronomically expensive playground for the wealthy where few artists and working-class people can afford to live. Salt Lake City is still home to many thriving local businesses, and my hope is that it values them enough to support them and shield them from developers. I had a mini panic attack when I saw that developers had their eyes on Ken Sanders Rare Books. While it’s heartening that the community has rallied behind Ken and offered him financial support via a GoFundMe page, it doesn’t mean he’ll keep his building. At this point, he’s launched a book boutique at The Leonardo while we wait to see what happens with his larger collection. Every time I set foot in Salt Lake City, another beloved small business which I once frequented has closed, and another eyesore of a condo that no one I know can afford to live in has sprung up in its place. If I get priced out of New Orleans, I couldn’t afford to move back to Salt Lake City. There’s still some beach-front property in Mississippi that’s in my price range—I think a lot of us are going to end up there in the coming years. I never thought that my hometown would become a playground for the rich, but I suppose nearly every mid-to-large American city is on its way to becoming obscenely expensive. If the cost of living in Salt Lake City keeps rising, those eclectic residents who make life interesting will have to take their shine elsewhere. CW Private Eye is off this week. Send comments to editor@cityweekly.net

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estaurant closures have become commonplace lately, especially during COVID, but it was a gut-punch to learn that Salt Lake City’s iconic Blue Plate Diner will permanently close its doors in May. In my pre-Celiac era, when my guts were still on good terms with gluten and dairy, I spent many happy hours at the Blue Plate, munching on cheese sandwiches and conversing with beloved friends. Twenty years is a good run for a restaurant but the reason for the closure—the sale of the retro diner to pave the way for a mixed-use development—is symptomatic of a larger erosion of the most eclectic corners of Salt Lake City’s culture. The city appears to be going steadily the way of California: overpopulated, overdeveloped and too expensive for anyone but the highest earners to sustain a reasonable quality of life in. In 2007, developer Craig Mecham dreamed up the bougie “Sugar House Loop,” which was to include sleek high rises and fancy new businesses. Mecham’s grand plans booted out many established small businesses in the 2100 South and 1100 East area. As a teenager in the ’90s, that area was my stomping ground where I bounced around drinking peach Italian sodas at Java Jive, peering into the open door of a palm reader’s shop as she foretold the future and saved my lunch money to buy provocative patterned tights from the Blue Boutique. My heart broke after the buildings of my beloved stretch of Sugar House were razed, only for the land they sat on to sit empty and undeveloped for years after Mecham’s project stalled. Some of my favorite spots in Salt Lake City were gutted by greed only to languish like a picked overcarcass. In 2018, on one of my trips to Salt Lake (I now live

BY JENNY POPLAR

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WIKICOMMONS

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Capitol Capers

Bills that may have slipped right by us during Utah’s highly unusual 2021 legislative session. BY BENJAMIN WOOD

o one can follow everything that happens at the Utah Legislature, and that was particularly true for the 45-day vote-a-rama that concluded on March 5. In a typical legislative session, you’re likely to learn as much about bills by sitting in the Capitol cafeteria as you are by watching debate from the House and floor galleries. Much of journalism is professional eavesdropping, and it’s considerably harder to do in a socially distanced, virtual-first format. Thus, I spent the week after session listening to committee hearings and chamber discussion that I had missed the first time around. Like any year in recent memory, schools got a funding bump, road projects were greenlit, Salt Lake City and County got jabbed in the ribs repeatedly, and certain taxes were cut—which could impact Utah’s share of federal COVID-19 relief.

But with some 500 new or altered laws headed to the desk of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, most will not get the attention they deserve. And for every nakedly sinister proposal that rightfully grabs the headlines—looking at you, transgender athletics ban—there are dozens that either die in darkness or tiptoe quietly into code. And in interviews with City Weekly, several political observers suggested that the story of the 2021 Legislature is as much about what didn’t pass as it is about what did. “In the current majority leadership, there’s a really strong libertarian streak,” said Lauren Simpson, policy director for the Alliance for a Better Utah. “Freedom without responsibility, prioritizing big corporations and deregulation, often at the expense of the public welfare.”

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WIKICOMMONS

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“We don’t want to keep people in jail simply because they don’t have means. And we don’t want to release people who might be a danger to society simply because they have a lot of money.” —Marina Lowe, ACLU of Utah

Bonds, Jail Bonds

Last year, Utah took a major step toward reforming cash bail, imposing new requirements that judges consider a defendant’s ability to pay and impose the least restrictive pre-trial measures possible. Passing that legislation was no small feat and the sponsor—Rep. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Salt Lake—was praised for navigating the requests and objections of competing parties in the state’s criminal justice industrial complex. The new law took effect in October and by January, the wheels had fallen off. “Nobody really knows exactly what went wrong,” said Molly Davis, a policy analyst with the Libertas Institute. “But we know that what’s being applied in one courthouse is completely different from what’s being applied in the courthouse down the road.” Prosecutors in the state’s largest counties—which handle the lion’s share of Utah’s criminal cases—said the new approach was beginning to bear fruit, with lower-level offenders able to live their lives ahead of trial while violent criminals remained safely locked away. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill went so far as to describe calls for repeal as “anecdotal, alarmist fearmongering” in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune. And Marina Lowe, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, said the effects of the reform were further muddled by the coronavirus pandemic. “We had jails trying to empty out their populations for COVID reasons,” Lowe said. But as lawmakers negotiated fixes to the problems, two bills representing two schools of thought emerged. One sought to tweak the existing law and allow more time for implementation, while the other called for repealing the reforms and effectively starting over on negotiations. “The world was not falling apart,” Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper, said of the old cash-bail system. “There were some issues that needed to be addressed, and we can do that.” Lawmakers ultimately adopted the repeal bill, and the issue remains as un-

settled as ever. Cox has said he has not ruled out a veto—about as close as governors get to tipping their hands on legislation—and groups like the ACLU are urging him to do so. “We don’t want to keep people in jail simply because they don’t have means,” Lowe said. “And we don’t want to release people who might be a danger to society simply because they have a lot of money.” Lawmakers insist they’re operating in good faith, with the intent of reintroducing legislation to move away from cash bail. And Lowe said that while much of the reforms were repealed, the state’s courts had already begun implementing new rules related to pre-trial detention, which will remain in place. “The court has already gone down a certain path,” Lowe said. “I think that will be the hook that requires everybody to come back to the table again.” Complicating matters further were the atypical alliances that formed around how best to move forward. Private defense attorneys and county sheriffs—often at odds with each other—were calling for repeal while county prosecutors split over the issue. And watching it all were Utah’s bail-bonds companies, which have an obvious financial stake in how this all plays out. “Ultimately we think it’s really discouraging that the Legislature would be so quick to repeal all the good work that has been done on bail reform,” Simpson said. “The broader picture is we’re concerned about the influence the cash bail industry has in Utah.”

Missing in Action

Heading into January, there was every reason to believe that the 2021 session could turn into a showdown between police and protestors. The previous summer had seen a series of high-profile abuses by law enforcement, as well as discomfiting scenes of violence in city streets. The roster of 2021 bills included a slew of proposals on all sides of the issue. Some lawmakers sought to rein in the police by weakening their legal immu-

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WIKICOMMONS

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Lawmakers constantly try to address what they see as a deteriorating state of civics education that shape Utahns into future citizens.

nities or by ending the practice of no-knock warrants—typified by the murder of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky—while others aimed to clamp down on demonstrators by altering the definition of gangs and riots or even by providing cover for anti-protest vehicular manslaughter. “We sort of called it the ‘License to Kill’ bill’,” Lowe said. “Because it said you could run people over and kill them and not have any criminal or civil liability.” In the end, most of the more aggressive bills on those topics fizzled out while lawmakers took more incremental steps on police training and incident data tracking. Davis, of the Libertas Institute, said the results were net-positive but squandered the momentum coming out of the summer months. “I was surprised. I honestly thought this was going to be the year for a lot of police reform,” Davis said. “And I am a little disappointed in some of the lack of movement on good bills that I thought were well-nuanced.” Also, notably absent from the session were bills on reproductive rights, a perennially popular and controversial topic for Utah’s GOP-controlled legislative branch. The issue had reached such volume in 2020 that lawmakers passed back-toback laws banning abortions in clear defiance of Supreme Court precedent— on hold, pending litigation—and prompted every female member of the Utah Senate to exit the chamber in protest. In 2021? Crickets. “In my time at the ACLU, it’s rare to have a session without an abortion bill,” Lowe said. Lowe suggested there could be fatigue after endless rounds of fighting on the issue. Or perhaps abortion opponents worried about the optics of imposing more restrictions on health care providers in the midst of a pandemic, she said. The session was also spare on air quality and environmental legislation, which had built some momentum led by key lawmakers and with support from former Gov. Gary Herbert. Meanwhile, House Speaker Brad Wilson and Senate President Stuart Adams took the atypical step of co-sponsoring legislation, ensuring the creation of a quasi-governmental body to wage war over access to the Colorado River. “Water issues in the state can be really slippery,” Simpson said. “We’re liv-

ing in a desert. We’re living in an era of climate change. And I think it should raise some red flags that the Legislature is devoting $8 million to litigate over this very-limited water supply instead of talking about how to conserve.” Simpson also questioned the structure of a massive infrastructure spending bill unveiled late in the session. House leaders had initially called for a more than $2 trillion price tag—including a billion dollars in bonding—before the Senate walked it back. Those plans call for a significant and necessary expansion to FrontRunner and other public transit initiatives, but largely consist of road projects. “We’re drilling holes in the public’s piggy bank year after year,” Simpson said. “We’ve got to start acting like a grown-up state and take some responsibility for quality of life.”

The Bigger Picture of Democracy

Every year, Utah lawmakers bemoan what they describe as the deteriorating state of civics education shaping our state’s youth into adulthood. One might wonder how much of that is coded partisan disdain for the ostensibly left-ofcenter education apparatus, but I digress. To date, proposed solutions have been typical of the Legislature’s broader approach to public schools—namely, testing the ever-living daylights out of children. High schoolers must now pass the U.S. citizenship exam prior to graduation, and various tweaks to grade-level social studies standards have been implemented in recent years. But this year, members of the House debated an entirely different approach—letting kids vote for school board. And while the proposal failed, it won a curious mix of bipartisan supporters and a refreshingly thoughtful debate on the House floor. “I just don’t think it is the worst idea in the world,” Rep. Jordan Teuscher, RSouth Jordan, told his colleagues, prompting a wave of laughter in the chamber. “It gives us a chance to get the kids excited about something while we still have them as a captive audience.” HB338, in its final form, would have allowed Utah school district boards of education to opt into a five-year pilot program in which 16- and 17-year-old constituents would be allowed to cast a ballot in school board races—and

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BLIP BILLBOARDS

“If cities continue to not be fair to the billboard industry—whether it’s this session or in the future—the Legislature will step in.” —Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross.

those races only. The bill’s sponsor—Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake—had accomplished similar legislation allowing 17-year-olds to vote in party primaries if their 18th birthday precedes the general election. He argued that voting is not so far removed from other things teens are legally capable of, such as working, paying taxes, owning a business, getting married, emancipating from their parents and standing trial as an adult. Briscoe described a “vicious cycle” in which young adults don’t vote because they feel unrepresented in government but are then unrepresented in government because they don’t vote. Extending a conditional franchise to high schoolers, he suggested, could begin to create a “virtuous circle.” “There is a bigger picture here, and the picture is democracy,” Briscoe said. “The fear is whether we’re going to survive, and I’ve had doubts the past year or two.” Those who spoke against the bill largely focused on the fickleness of youth. While some minors would be up to the task of responsible voting, they said, broad participation by children could “dilute” the “sacred” right of suffrage or leave school board elections vulnerable to crass, populist appeals. “There are a lot of them who will just vote for Pedro because it’s a super sweet dance,” said Utah County Republican Rep. Brady Brammer, referring to the 2004 Idaho-set indie comedy Napoleon Dynamite. “We have to be careful about that.” School district administrators, for their part, were skeptical. The Salt Lake City School District was ready to pull the trigger and other Wasatch Front districts were open to considering the option, but the statewide association of district school boards formally voted to oppose the legislation. Briscoe says he hopes to get the issue on an agenda for interim study and will likely reintroduce some version of the bill next year.

Signs of the Times

Conflict is ever-brewing between cities and billboard companies, with the push of development butting up against efforts to convert analog ad spaces to next-generation digital displays. The billboard companies—among the most prolific campaign donors in the state—feel they’re being unduly squeezed out of city centers (the Capital City, in particular) and have committed to a strategy of taking their concerns over the heads of municipal leaders to the more sympathetic GOP-controlled Legislature. Enter Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, and his proposal to supersede city regulations on outdoor advertising and open the door to electronic billboard conversions over the objections of local leaders. Throughout the month of Feb-

ruary, SB61 was put on hold, amended, put on hold, amended, put on hold, amended once more and finally brought up for a debate on the Senate floor in a watered-down format that Sandall said was meant to compel the warring factions to work together on a better bill next year. “I’m not sure anyone is supporting the bill at this point,” Sandall told his Senate colleagues. But Sen. Derek Kitchen, D-Salt Lake (and a former Salt Lake City councilman), said he was skeptical of the billboard lobby’s claims of unfair treatment at the hands of city governments. He argued it is reasonable for Utahns to not want their highways, streets and neighborhoods subjected to the “Vegas treatment” of wall-to-wall digital advertising. “I just don’t see the inequity that the billboard companies are claiming exists here,” he said. The bill failed on a 12-15 vote in the Senate. Another pro-billboard bill didn’t even make it that far. Still, several of Sandall’s GOP colleagues made a point to stand and compliment the Tremonton senator on his efforts, implicitly—and in some cases explicitly—telegraphing a warning that the battle is far from over. “If cities continue to not be fair to the billboard industry—whether it’s this session or in the future—the Legislature will step in,” said Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross. Cooler heads also prevailed on a long-debated issue of letting cyclists treat stop signs as yield signs, something virtually every cyclist does already since breaking the law is preferable to breaking their necks. That bill, sponsored by Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, passed the Legislature with comfortable majorities. But several House members, including two from the GOP leadership, spoke in opposition, struggling with the concept of the bill and falsely characterizing it as putting the convenience of cyclists over that of other road users. While letting bikes roll through intersections may appear counterintuitive, research and practical experience backs it up. Cars are most dangerous in motion, while cyclists are most vulnerable at a standstill. And, as Moss explained to her colleagues, bikers tend not to come out on top in the event of a collision. “If they make a mistake, they’re likely to lose their life,” she said. And after three years of debate, Utah has adopted a new state flag with—potentially—another one on the way. A task force is set to convene in the coming months that will solicit, review and recommend designs for a state flag that could be adopted as early as next year. In the meantime, the so-called Martin Flag—a modern spin on the current design commissioned by businessman Richard Martin—has been adopted as the commemorative flag for the 125th anniversary of Utah statehood.

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MARCH 18, 2021 | 15

BLIP BILLBOARDS

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16 | MARCH 18, 2021

DABC employees may soon see a pay increase, thanks to a bill passing that allows state run liquor stores to retain enough profit to pay employees more competitive wages.

Mandatory Minimums

Tucked into the hours of esoteric floor debate was a long-sought boost in pay for employees at Utah’s state-run liquor stores. Because alcohol is still looked at with Volsteadian terror by many in our lovely Deseret, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) is firewalled from its robust profits, necessitating an annual trip up Capitol Hill to secure its operating costs. That has contributed to notoriously poor working conditions at liquor stores and staff turnover that exceeds 100 percent annually. Just in case the incredibility of that number escaped you, that means more DABC employees quit their job each year than there are jobs for them to have. “They’re keeping [personnel] for a matter of months, but not a matter of years, in most cases,” Rep. Tim Hawkes, R-Centerville—the House’s de facto alcohol guy—told his colleagues. The hoped-for solution, which won approval from both chambers, is to let DABC keep just enough profit to cover its bases and to tie retail pay rates to the median salary of comparable, private-sector jobs. Liquor store employees must be at least 21, Hawkes explained, and competitive, “market-based” salaries are needed to keep adults in those positions. “We need someone who is older,” Hawkes said. “That just puts real pressure on finding someone willing to do the job at those rates.” Asked what the new hourly pay rate would be, Hawkes gave what sure sounds like an argument in favor of increasing the minimum wage, if it had come out of the mouth of anyone other than a Utah Republican. “My guess is currently—and I’m just spitballing here to be honest—it’s probably about $15 an hour,” Hawkes said. Utah Democrats routinely sponsor minimum-wage legislation that is always dead on arrival. But the DABC bill also comes after a less-publicized review of state employees that found many at entry-level salaries work multiple jobs or rely on welfare. Nationally, more than half of those who work minimum-wage jobs are over the age of 24, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two-thirds are women. CW

That’s a Wrap

Twitter users divulge their highlights of the 2021 session

Benjamin Wood: Hey friends, I’m putting together a post-session wrap up and would love some suggestions for under-the-radar legislation (or floor moments) that may not have gotten the attention they deserved.

3 bills passed that will reduce burdensome reports required of LEAs HB42, HB134 & HB300 by@PulsipherSusan. An audit showed there are between 300 & 400 required reports (that no one does). Audit found that no one knows the cost of said reports. Let’s put the $ back in the classroom —Kim Frank @UTCharterChat @VoteSuz’s bill on diesel vehicles needing emissions testing? —@WanderingDave Reagan [Outdoor Advertising] loses, twice. —@TaylorWAnderson

HB113 (should always have been this way for fairness, equality); Floor discussion of HB102; Passage of HB219 (ending predatory phone rates at county jails w/sheriffs in agreement) —Rep. Cheryl Acton, R-West Jordan @VoteCherylActon Medicaid budget shenanigans —@stacyKstanford

SB214 officially allows Utah govt documents to be published in languages other than English. This is huge. Nearly 1 in 6 Utahns speak a language other than English at home. It was a huge obstacle at the start of the pandemic. —@KPkelsey

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MARCH 18, 2021 | 17

18 | MARCH 18, 2021

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ALEX SPRINGER

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

AT A GLANCE

Open: Mon.-Sun., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Best bet: The Bacon Mac N’ Cheese Burger Can’t miss: The cheesesteak egg rolls just to say you tried them

MARCH 18, 2021 | 19

of “Triple D’s” lifespan, Fieri has firmly established himself as a catch-phrase spewing everyman who’s not afraid to get mustard in his goatee. He’s always been a divisive player in the realm of pop culture, and if you’ve ever wondered how the food conceived by this apotheosis of foodie-bro culture tastes, read on.

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Most people know Guy Fieri as the host of Food Network’s popular travelogue Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, which spotlights under-the-radar eateries across the country. Local restaurants such as Moochie’s, Oh Mai, Red Iguana, Proper Burger and others have all been featured during the show’s run. Over the course

’m a bit of a cultural enthusiast when it comes to Flavortown and its monarch, Guy Fieri—I may have dressed up as the platinum-coiffed celebrity chef for Halloween at some point within the past five years. Before last week, however, I had yet to plumb the depths of his donkey-sauce empire. Seemingly overnight, four locations of Guy’s Flavortown Kitchen (guysflavortownkitchen.com) sprung up in Midvale, Murray and Downtown Salt Lake, offering some of the Food Network personality’s trademark items delivered right to your home. Once I got wind of these delivery-only establishments, I had to check them out.

This was an average plate of alfredo pasta—it’s always good because alfredo, and the pops of sweetness from the sun-dried tomatoes were most welcome to the party, but I couldn’t detect enough of the Cajun spices to differentiate it from any other plate of pasta alfredo. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this dish—if you like pasta alfredo, you’ll like this—but there’s not a whole lot going on to set it apart. For dessert, the Cheesecake Challenge is a tasty but tiny slice of cheesecake marbled with chocolate and topped with crushed pretzels, potato chips and chocolate sauce. It’s got a nice fluffy texture which gets some help from the pretzels and chips that add a salty crunch to the mix. Maybe if the slice was a bit bigger, it would have presented more of a challenge. All in all, Guy’s Flavortown Kitchen is exactly what you’d expect from the duke of Flavortown: Lots of melty, cheesy, deep-fried comfort food-adjacent hits on the menu, all of which is straightforward and unassuming. If you’re after something easy to eat and easy to order, it’s definitely worth your time. CW

Guy’s Flavortown Kitchen comes to Utah. Are any of us prepared?

deep fryer. This appetizer is made with shaved ribeye and Flavortown’s trademark super melty cheese (SMC), which is a goopier strain of nacho cheese. The genius of merging cheesesteak and egg rolls is not lost on me—I think stuffing golden brown egg roll wrappers with a Philly blend of ribeye and Cheese Whiz is fantastic. That said, these bad boys were just a bit heavier on the nacho cheese flavor than the ribeye. A bit of balance would do wonders here. Next up was the mac and cheese burger, complete with accolades of winning burger contests in Vegas and New York. It’s stacked to the rafters with nice thick bacon, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato, sliced onions, pickles and a heap of mac and cheese. The menu said it had donkey sauce too, but methinks it was overshadowed by everything else, so its flavor remains a mystery. The patty at the foundation of this towering inferno is a tasty example of burger craftsmanship—a good amount of salt, juicy despite being cooked medium well, and present enough to remain the centerpiece of the whole affair. I’m a fan of the thicker pieces of bacon here as well, and the amount of mac and cheese was just right. Overall, this is a solid burger, and my favorite item of the evening. The Cajun Chicken Alfredo features a pile of penne pasta slathered in gooey alfredo sauce with sundried tomatoes and grilled chicken.

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Two Tickets to Flavortown

Since Guy’s Flavortown Kitchen is delivery-only, their website for online ordering is your first exposure to the place. The menu is fairly sparse, consisting of burgers, pasta, salads and appetizers. As I’ve done a fair amount of ordering food online over the past year, I have to say that the ability to just click an item and have it automatically added to your cart before navigating through a zillion confirmation screens is a nice touch. I ordered up some S-M-Cheesesteak Egg Rolls ($14.99), a Bacon Mac N’ Cheese Burger ($12.99), some Cajun Chicken Alfredo ($14.99) and the Cheesecake Challenge ($7.95), marveling at the Vegas-style prices as I awaited my order. The food arrives in a sturdy paper bag, and the packaging is doing the food all kinds of favors. I’ve had lots of burgers squashed in transit, but Flavortown Kitchen puts their sizable burgers into their own box; maybe this is where that extra money goes. Either way, it makes for a structural burger that looks like it came right from the kitchen. The same goes for all the food I got. So far, so good, Flavortown. I feel like the item that perfectly synthesizes Fieri’s brand is the cheesesteak egg rolls. A hundred years from now, when Guy Fieri is nothing more than an urban legend, teens will say “cheesesteak egg roll” three times into a mirror to summon his ghost from an antiquated

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20 | MARCH 18, 2021

onTAP BEER TO-GO AVAILABLE! SUN - THU: 11AM – 9PM FRI - SAT: 11AM – 10PM

2 Row Brewing 6856 S. 300 West, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com On Tap: Feelin’ Hazy

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com On Tap: Bougie Johnny’s

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

Bewilder Brewing 445 S. 400 West, SLC BewilderBrewing.com On Tap: Irish Lager

Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com On Tap: Irish Cream Cider

Squatters 147 W. Broadway, SLC Squatters.com

Bohemian Brewery 94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com

Ogden River Brewing 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenRiverBrewing.com On Tap: 3:10 to El Dorado – West Coast Pale Ale

Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale Desert Edge Brewery 273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com On Tap: Fresh Brewed UPA Epic Brewing Co. 825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com On Tap: Tart ‘N’ Juicy Sour IPA

2496 S. WEST TEMPLE, SLC LEVELCROSSINGBREWING.COM @LEVELCROSSINGBREWING

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

Fisher Brewing Co. 320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com On Tap: Red Ale Grid City Beer Works 333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com On Tap: Extra Pale Ale Hopkins Brewing Co. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com On Tap: Stonewall Sour Saison Hoppers Grill and Brewing 890 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale HoppersBrewPub.com

Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com Proper Brewing 857 S. Main, SLC ProperBrewingCo.com On Tap: Proper Beer - English Golden Ale Red Rock Brewing Multiple Locations RedRockBrewing.com On Tap: Baked Pastry Stout RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com On Tap: Fuzzy Pucker Peach Sour Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com On Tap: Cosmic Autumn Rebellion SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com On Tap: Apollo 18 NEIPA

Kiitos Brewing 608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com On Tap: Bombshell Cherry Belgian Ale

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com On Tap: Pink Boots Pale Ale

Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer On Tap: Berliner Weisse

Strap Tank Brewery Multiple Locations StrapTankBrewery.com Springville On Tap: PB Rider, Peanut Butter Stout Lehi On Tap: 2-Stroke, Vanilla Mocha Porter TF Brewing 936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com On Tap: Hopfen Weisse Talisman Brewing Co. 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden TalismanBrewingCo.com On Tap: Czech-Mate: Czech style amber lager Toasted Barrel Brewery 412 W. 600 North, SLC ToastedBarrelBrewery.com Uinta Brewing 1722 S. Fremont Drive, SLC UintaBrewing.com On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer UTOG 2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com On Tap: Son of a Peach Vernal Brewing 55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com Wasatch 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC WasatchBeers.com Zion Brewery 95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com Zolupez 205 W. 29th Street #2, Ogden Zolupez.com

BEER NERD

Tradition and Non-Tradition BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

LIVE JAZZ Thursdays 8-11 PM

MIKE RIEDEL

1048 East 2100 South | (385) 528-3275 | HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

@UTOGBrewingCo

UTOGBrewing.com 2331 Grant Ave, Ogden

Transom Dark Pale Ale Great Beer, No Compromise

30 E KENSINGTON AVE SLC, UT 84115

WWW.ROHABREWING.COM

Ogen’s Family-Friendly Brewery with the Largest Dog-Friendly Patio! Restaurant and Beer Store Now Open 7 Days a Week!

You already have your BURGER JOINT & TACO JOINT Now meet your TERIYAKI JOINT

japanesegrill.com

MARCH 18, 2021 | 21

DINE IN • TAKE OUT • DELIVERY 801-713-9423 | 5692 S. 900 E. Murray 801-300-8503 | 516 E. 300 S. SLC

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tro stout or a green pilsner, but your tongue will have a blast. Proper - Brunch Beer: This is not a beer that screams, “erin go bragh.” It is eyecatching, though, pouring a cloudy golden yellow color that takes on more of a dark golden hue when held to the light. It had one finger worth of white head that quickly faded to a thin ring. The aroma starts off with a higher amount of medium sweetness, followed by the wheat, which imparts a nice and noticeable wheat aroma with some bready and sweet malts showing up in the background. Up next comes a light spicy aroma with a coriander-like spiciness, followed by the grapefruit, which has a nice natural citrus perfume. The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma, and it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness, followed by the wheat still being the first to show up. It imparts the same aspects that were found in the nose. Up next comes some noticeable doughy yeast and hardly any spices, with some grapefruit flavors showing up, but they might be even lighter than it was in the aroma. On the finish comes a very light amount of medium bitterness that is unique, and must be from the grapefruit, since it doesn’t have that sharpness that I expect from hops. It had a very wheat-like aftertaste, with just a little grapefruit coming through. It’s smooth, clean, crisp and refreshing on the palate for 5.0 percent ABV—on the high side of being light-bodied, with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel was nice, and it worked well with this beer. Overall: I thought this was a decent beer, and pretty close to being a good example of the style. The wheat base showed up nicely, but I was left wanting a little more grapefruit. I really like grapefruit, though, so if you’re less enthusiastic about it, then it will be spot-on. Many consider Saint Patrick’s Day to be amateur hour as far as drinking goes. Maybe it is—or maybe you haven’t quite found the right craft beverage to pair with the good company you keep. I hope one of these traditional and non-traditional offerings treat you well. As always, slainte! CW

here are quite a few Irish style or themed beers out this week to help us all celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. I got to try a handful of them, and decided to go with the one that I felt was the best example of its style and most drinkable. The other beer is much more of an American-style ale that is the antithesis of a Saint Paddy’s slammer. Bewilder - Irish Lager: It looks like a yellow daisy with a pillowy pearl-white head. This lager reminds me more of tropical sunshine and white sand beaches than it does Ireland’s mossy hills and rocky shores. Still, it looks unarguably appealing, despite its non-trendy clarity, not to mention the astonishing adhesiveness of this foam. A deep maltiness exhumes notes of fresh harvested cereal grains and crisp straw, with a generous sprinkling of green, leafy hops. I’d be far more likely to associate this with Germany; it has all the components of a nice Munich Helles. The lack of adjuncts pays big dividends, at least as far as well attuned palates are concerned. Not only does this not have any hint of corn, adjuncts or artificial taste, but it does have the honest, natural flavor of malted barley, just clean and vivid. Overall: Nothing about the mouthfeel of this 5.0 percent lager wows me; then again, it’s not expected to. This gets the 28 IBUs (I’m guessing) to a highly quaffable refreshing level. It may not be as fun as a ni-

TUESDAY TRIVIA! 7-9 PM

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Two beers, one for tradition and one for the nonconformist

OUTDOOR SEATING ON THE PATIO

the

BACK BURNER BY ALEX SPRINGER @captainspringer

n c e8 i S 96 1

SanFran Burrito N Fryz Opens

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you LOVE

AVAILABLE THROUGH IRON MILLS, D D WIN E T CRAF BASKETS, RK EWO FENC D ART R & YA

OR CALL AHEAD FOR CURBSIDE PICK-UP (801) 355-0499

IRON TED T BIRDH RELLISES , OU CAGE SES, ORNA S & MENT S

CRAF

I can’t get enough of bonkers fusion menus, and it looks like this new restaurant in Salt Lake’s Chinatown market area of Winslow Park (3390 S. State Street, Ste. 35, 801-419-0227, sanfran-burrito-n-fryz.business. site) is after my heart. In addition to items like kimchi burritos and rice bowls, Sanfran is also making burgers, yakisoba noodles and ramen. It’s hard to think of a menu that has more international comfort food items, and it will be interesting to see where Sanfran’s strengths lie. I for one am looking forward to getting a California burrito and a bowl of ramen. Will I dunk the burrito in ramen broth? I’ll know when the time comes.

italianv illageslc.com

5370 S 900 E 801.266.4182

mon-thur 11am-11pm fri-sat 11am-12am sun 3pm-10pm

Raising Cane’s Breaks Ground

Utah’s fried chicken and chicken finger market continues to garner national attention, as Raising Cane’s breaks ground on its first Utah location in South Jordan (11400 S. Bangerter Highway). Raising Cane’s was founded in Baton Rouge, La., back in 1996, and has spread steadily across the country with more than 540 restaurants in 29 states. Their menu is focused on fried chicken fingers, coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries and thick slices of Texas toast. Raising Cane’s also has plans to open at least four more locations throughout Utah in the near future. This national chain is coming up against some stiff fried chicken competition, so we’ll see how it stacks up when it opens this summer.

Celebrat i

22 | MARCH 18, 2021

the food

year

Seemore Meats and Veggies at Harmon’s THE MOST COMFORTABLE FOOD IN TOWN!

TEXAS ORIGINAL RECIPES 100% Wood Smoked Bar-B-Que

Tue-Wed 7-3pm Thu-Sat 7-7pm 962 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City

Harmon’s (harmonsgrocery.com) has started carrying sausages from Seemore Meats & Veggies (eatseemore. com), a craft sausage company founded by fourthgeneration butcher Cara Nicoletti. The goal of Seemore Meats & Veggies is to incorporate more veggies into their sausages, with flavors like La Dolce Beet-a made with fresh beets, garlic and fennel, and loaded baked potato with taters, cheddar cheese and bacon bits. I’ve always felt that sausage has lots of whole meal potential, so adding more veggies to the mix only serves to validate that idea. Looking forward to checking these out next time I’m at Harmon’s. Quote of the Week: “Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving and identity.” Jonathan Safran Foer

Call your order in for curbside delivery! 801-355-3425 878 E 900 S

Stay warm with your friends at

20 W. 200 S. SLC | (801) 355-3891 AS SEEN ON “ DINERS, DRIVEINS AND DIVES”

Serving American Comfort Food Since 1930

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-PATIO NOW OPEN UNDER NEW GUIDELINES-TAKEOUT AVAILABLE-90 YEARS AND GOING STRONG-BREAKFAST SERVED DAILY UNTIL 4PM-DELICIOUS MIMOSAS & BLOODY MARY’S“Like having dinner at Mom’s in the mountains”

“In a perfect world, every town would have a diner just like Ruth’s”

-Cincinnati Enquirer

-CityWeekly

| CITY WEEKLY |

WATCH YOUR NCAA BRACKET BURST HERE!

• IRISH NACHOS & MINI • IRISH MULES & COFFEE • GREEN BEER ON 3/17!

PROUD BLACK-OWNED RESTAURANT

$2 off all 10” pizza

NOW HIRING!

TACO TUESDAY

Your choice of any 2+ Tacos $2.50 ea.

WING WEDNESDAY

75¢ Wings Minimum order of 5

THIRSTY THURSDAY

Pint of Beer or Tall Boy w/shot $5.00

535 N 300 W, SLC (across from Marmalade Library) | diversioneatery.com |

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH

Food menu Available from 11am to 3pm $3 Mimosas | $6 Boozie Coffees | NEW $6 Boneyard Bloodys

@diversion_social_eatery

NOW HIRING!

MARCH 18, 2021 | 23

Ask about Catering! low-carb and gluten free options along with a kid-friendly mini menu IT’S A MONDAY

4160 EMIGRATION CANYON ROAD | 801 582-5807 | WWW.RUTHSDINER.COM

GOODEATS Complete listings at cityweekly.net

WE ARE OPEN!

Featuring dining destinations from buffets and rooms with a view to mom-and-pop joints, chic cuisine and some of our dining critic’s faves.

Award Winning Donuts

705 S. 700 E. | (801) 537-1433

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24 | MARCH 18, 2021

Tin Angel integrates a fun, lively ambiance with quality local ingredients and creative dishes, creating the perfect atmosphere for first-daters. The family-run restaurant has found the recipe for success with their specialty tapas—such as the Moroccan-spiced cauliflower and chickpeas; spiced almonds, gorgonzola and pear; or gypsy pork empanadas. In warm weather, the patio is a great place to take in the neighborhood sights and sounds. 365 W. 400 South, 801-3284155, thetinangel.com

Tona

Settebello

FAMILY OWNED LOCALLY LOVED HALAL • VEGAN • VEGETARIAN CATERING AVAILABLE

ORDER ONLINE USING

COME ON IN OR CURBSIDE IT! HAND CRAFTED BURGERS. All natural and homemade products from proteins to sodas

30 E BROADWAY, SLC UT

1326 E. 5600 S. SLC (801) 679-1688 BEIRUTCAFE.COM

801-355-0667

Mon-Thur 11am to 8pm Fri - Sat 11am to 10pm Sun: 12pm to 8pm

DISCOUNT

CODES

Tin Angel

Tony Chen and Tina Yu’s sushi restaurant is one of the hottest and busiest establishments in Ogden. The extensive tapas list includes a delicious gyoza plate (pan-fried pork potstickers with sesame-seed vinaigrette); charred Brussels sprouts (with fresh basil, lemon zest, diced chili and sweet soy) and Bacon Bubble Gum (mochi rice cake, pork belly, grapefruit and sweet soy), to name a few. Not into sharing? The bento boxes are bountiful and beautiful, as are the traditional sushi rolls. 210 25th St., Ogden, 801622-8662, tonarestaurant.com

BURGERS AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD!

MARCH

This upscale pizzeria uses high-quality, often imported ingredients—including flour, prosciutto crudo, and Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy—to craft its classic Neopolitan pizzas, which are cooked in a woodfired oven in less than a minute. Choose from classic toppings options, like the restaurant’s namesake Settebello pizza, which includes pancetta, sausage, mushrooms, pine nuts, and mozarella; or, opt for a white pizza. Settebello offers an excellent gluten-free crust; the menu also boasts a robust selection of salads and antipastos. For an after-dinner treat, pop over to conjoined Capo Gelateria and choose from the extensive, rotating selection of gelato and sorbetto. 260 S. 200 West, 801-322-3556, settebello.net

The Bayou

It’s “beervana” at The Bayou—with a selection of more than 300 brews, it would take nearly a year to try them all, although owner Mark Alston is always making additions to his impressive stock. Still can’t decide on a particular brewski? Download The Bayou app, which randomly selects 10 beers from the complete menu. The Bayou doesn’t just serve the Devil’s nectar, though. They also have an amazing dining selection of Creole and Cajun dishes, such as the Cajun chicken sandwich, served with spicy chicken, chipotle aioli, provolone and onions. 645 S. State, 801-9618400, utahbayou.com

TAKE AN EXTRA

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BUY LOCAL

Get a Load of These Cans While Supplies last

VODKA SODA AVAILABLE NOW!

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AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH THE UTAH DABC

abc.utah.gov/products/ place-a-special-order/

MARCH 18, 2021 | 25

615 W. Stockman Way, Ogden (801) 458-1995 www.OgdensOwn.com

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PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

a member of the Mormon faith and serving a two-year mission … was a wake-up call for myself, my family, and my friends,” writes Francis. Through photo collage of the artist’s body and Utah’s landscapes, as well as objects found from these landscapes, Francis captures the relationship between identity and surroundings. Both exhibitions run through April 23. (Scott Renshaw)

Technically speaking, National Poetry Month doesn’t begin until April. That doesn’t mean you need to wait a couple of weeks to appreciate the power of verse. This week, the University of Utah Guest Writers Series welcomes award-winning poet Mark Wunderlich for a reading and conversation about his work. A Minnesota native, Wunderlich currently lives in New York and serves on the faculty of Bennington College in Vermont. His first poetry collection, 1999’s The Anchorage, garnered the Lambda Literary Award; subsequent collections include 2004’s Voluntary Servitude, 2014’s The Earth Avails and the upcoming God of Nothingness. While Wunderlich covers a range of subjects and styles—including a playful look at his own name in God of Nothingness—he notes a particular power in rhyming verse. “I can’t think of any other part of writing poems that feels more magical to me than rhyming,” Wunderlich tells the University of Arizona Poetry Center. “Rhymes make a poem incatatory, transform it into a kind of spell. The feeling

of writing a poem and working into that moment when the poem begins to sing, when the gear of one word locks into the cog of the next, and the whole machine begins to turn—there are few experiences I love more than that, and the hope of inhabiting that state once again is what makes me keep returning to the page and to my desk.” The live, free virtual event takes place Thursday, March 18, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Registration is required at english.utah.edu, but for those unable to attend live, events are recorded and offered via the department’s YouTube channel (SR)

Bill Engvall @ Tuacahn

Additional scheduled panelists include: Naja Pham Lockwood, philanthropist and executive producer of the Oscar-nominated Last Days in Vietnam; Peter Frost, LCSW, is the Director of Youth and Family Services for the Refugee and Immigrant Center - Asian Association of Utah; and Chad Pemberton, a Logan-based immigration attorney who currently also serves as the Utah Director for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 88 based in Phoenix. The free virtual event takes place Wednesday, March 24, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Register to attend at pbsutah.org/events/pbsutah-event/the-refugee-experience-utah. (SR)

For more than 35 years, Texas native Bill Engvall has built a comedy career based on a downhome, Everyman persona. It made him a perfect fit for the celebrated Blue Collar Comedy Tour with Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White, a partnership that reached millions in the early 2000s via live performances, recordings and a documentary feature. His reach subsequently expanded into a short-lived TBS sitcom, and—since it’s the law that comedians have one—a podcast, the now-defunct My Two Cents His most recent comedy special, 2016’s Just Sell Him for Parts, found him exploring some of the consequences of getting older, including a hospitalization for a knee replacement. But he has particular fun with one of his higherprofile gigs of the past several years: a stint on Dancing with the Stars in 2013, where he ultimately landed in fourth place. From his initial enthusiasm for his performance—“There’s going to be Bill Engvall Dance Studios

MARIA NAGEL

PBS Utah: The Refugee Experience in Utah As a territory and a state, Utah was founded on the experience of being a refugee—those fleeing persecution and the fear of violence, seeking a place where they could feel safe. More than 150 years later, what is it like for those who still turn to Utah as a refuge, this time from other cultures and countries, and do they feel welcome here? PBS Utah, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, the Inclusion Center at Utah State University, and the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection present an interactive, multimedia presentation on The Refugee Experience in Utah. The conversation will incorporate literature, film and art, and attendees are encouraged to read Thi Bui’s 2017 illustrated memoir The Best We Could Do ahead of time. The PBS Utah short documentary Finding Home: Utah’s Refugee Story will be shown as part of the event, along with a presentation by artist Mario Uribe on his serigraph Toll Road (to Paradise), which explores the Mexican immigrant experience through road signs installed in Southern California to warn of the possibility of undocumented aliens crossing freeways.

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

NICHOLAS KAHN

FINCH LANE GALLERY

It’s hard to overstate the psychological impact of feeling like you don’t belong. A sense of other-ness creeps into every aspect of your identity, especially when that other-ness is wrapped up in the moral judgment of the insiders. Two new exhibitions currently running at Finch Lane Gallery (54 Finch Lane, saltlakearts.org) explore that sense of being an outsider through two distinctive lenses. In (un)Holy Relics, Chauncey Secrist’s sculptural artifacts reveal the impact of growing up as a religious minority. The artist grew up in Sandy, Utah, raised in a largely atheist/ agnostic family surrounded by Latter-day Saints neighbors. “Throughout my youth, I was excluded from the Boy Scouts, was told by other children’s parents that their kids couldn’t play with me because I was ‘a bad influence,’” Secrist says in an artist statement. “What continues to bother me are comments suggesting that I cannot understand sacredness or reverence because I do not believe in a God.” Using found materials (“(un)Holy Relic #4” is pictured), Secrist looks at a variety of ways in which something might be considered sacred. Photographer and sculptural artist Nate Francis, deals with the experience of growing up gay in Utah in their exhibition In Place. “Coming out as queer after living as

ENTERTAINMENT PICKS, MARCH 18-24, 2021

University of Utah Guest Writers Series: Mark Wunderlich

Chauncey Secrist / Nate Francis @ Finch Lane Gallery

PBS UTAH

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ESSENTIALS

the

around the country!”—he’s forced to deal with a rehearsal-related groin injury. “I heard a sound come from my crotch that was somewhere between a scream and a tear. … Fellas, if you’ve never torn your groin, allow me: Go home tonight, take out your hunting knife, put it in a flame, let it get glowing red-hot, then just jab it in your crotch.” Engvall returns to Utah to play the outdoor amphitheater at Tuacahn (1100 Tuacahn Dr., Ivins, tuacahn.org) on Friday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Tuacahn website starting at $60, along with information on COVID safety protocols. (SR)

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Drive-Thru Book Tour

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney goes on the road for a safe, spooky inperson event. BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Jeff Kinney

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CW: How did they idea of doing an inperson tour come about? JK: It started with the idea that I really wanted to do something physical. Kids are stuck looking at talking heads all day on screens. I live in two worlds: I’m also a bookstore owner, and just about every night we do Zoom events. But for me, I really felt like I had to be out there in the world. For me, it was kind of a psychological need. … It started off very modestly in the summer—in August I rented a van, and bought a 9-foot grabber tool. Cars would drive by and I’d use it to hand books to kids. In fall, I really ramped that up. The drive-thru became kind of a tunnel that felt like you were underwater; we had sound effects and giant beach balls. Then I’d hand kids their books at the end of a diving board.

CW: What has the response to the events been like? JK: What was really interesting was, families came out to the event, brought grandma and the family dog. So now I’m reaching a lot more people. On average, there might be about 800 people at a live event [before the pandemic]. Now we’re doing 200 to 250 cars, with four or five people per car. CW: Did being a bookstore owner yourself have an impact on why you wanted to go out and do an in-person tour? JK: That was important to me. Most of the bookstores that we partnered with, it was the first physical event that they’ve had since the pandemic. It can be very helpful. CW: The Rowley Jefferson books seem to be an example of having the best of both worlds—being able to keep working within this popular universe you’ve created, but tell really different kinds of stories. How do you navigate between satisfying the fans,

and a creative person’s desire not to get stale? JK: I think in a way, the template has really been set for the regular Diary books. The theme changes, but the formula stays the same. For the Rowley books, each one is different and surprising. So far, we’re three for three on that. CW: While this is a book of funny-scary stories, why was the choice not to release it in October? JK: I would never want to write a book that would only work in one month. I consider those sort of novelty books. When you think of sort of a classic scary story, you don’t think of them as being just “Halloween stories.” CW: For the stories in the book, you’re working with some familiar horror archetypes, but in a light-hearted way. How did you go about approaching them? JK: In this book, my rule of thumb was to subvert, then subvert again. The typical zombie story, for example, there’s an invasion, then people fight for their lives, and there’s a few people left standing. That’s every zombie story. So, what if instead, the people just let them in? Rowley’s point of view is very positive, so that made sense for him. … Quite accidentally, I made discoveries about these types of stories as I wrote them. I didn’t realize that werewolf stories were rooted in puberty until I started writing. A lot of people have had embarrassment at school related to puberty. And a lot of the stories end up like that. Each of these archetypal stories, the reason they endure is they speak to some sort of truth about the human condition. CW

JEFF KINNEY: ROWLEY’S SPOOKY DRIVE THRU

FILIP WOLLAK

Get Well Soon

City Weekly: As the lockdown started last year, there was this narrative that certain kinds of people and certain kinds of occupations would be affected more than others, and maybe someone like a writer would just be going about business as usual. What changes, if any, did the past year have on when and how you work? Jeff Kinney: In some ways the pandemic made things easier for me as a writer. It slowed things down, got me off the road. I was planning to go to Brazil, China, and those things were cancelled. In other ways, it made it harder. I have high school-age kids at home doing remote learning, so most of my writing in the past year, I did at the cemetery. I took a blanket and a bag of Skittles and Oreo Double-Stuff, and worked there.

FILIP WOLLA

ike all of us, Jeff Kinney—author of the best-selling Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series—has gotten tired of being separated from other people, including his readers. While remaining safe, Kinney has come up with a creative way of interacting in person with Wimpy Kid fans by means of a “drive-thru” tour, which visits Salt Lake City this week to promote his new book, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories. Kinney recently spoke with City Weekly from his home in Massachusetts about the tour, how his work routine changed during the pandemic, and branching out from the Wimpy Kid formula.

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Spring Songbirds Looking at some of the best local singer/songwriters

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o be a solo songwriter is to be a force all on one’s own, and luckily SLC harbors several of them. Ranging from the super active to the slow-and-steady releasers, these local solo songbirds are simmering with potential that’s worth keeping an eye on. Anais Chantal: A glittery goddess of neo-soul lurks right here in Salt Lake City, and though she hasn’t put out a ton of music, her 2019 ep Birdie is a fantastical three-piece contribution to the bubbling underground of jazz and soul that thrive in this city. With a voice that’s classic and clear, balanced between soulfulness and simplicity, Chantal starts out that EP with the song “Pt. 1: Doctor,” a done-me-wrong, been-hoodwinked number that allows Chantal’s voice to float along like a butterfly on a summer breeze made up of bouncing twangs from an upright bass. The longest track on the EP, the five minute “Pt. 2 Lithium” finds its gleam with the help of electric keys and slow easy drum rhythms. And though written in 2019, long before our world got to where it is now, her closer “Pt. 3 Spring” finds Chantal peacefully thumbing through questions about herself and the world around her, whether she’s “chaotic or serene,” finding her answers in trees and streams. Besides making the listener feel very serene, Chantal’s exploration of the inner self through nature feels apt as we jump into a uniquely chaotic spring season this year. Find Birdie wherever you stream, or on anaischantal.bandcamp.com. You can find Anais on Instagram at @anaischants, where lately she posts covers and collabs with other local artists. Cherry Thomas: Speaking of Anais Chantal, she shows up virtually in one of Cherry Thomas’ recent videos as a collaborator, showing that this city’s music scene is, as ever, tight-knit even through a pandemic. The two throw their similar soulful styles at Drake’s endlessly cover-able track “Passionfruit,” the original version of which is increasingly the most boring one. As for her own music, Thomas is somehow enigmatic even as she continues to be one of the most active local musicians in the area. With endless videos online that show off her smoky, deeply ranging voice, blues guitar chops and—gotta mention it—killer pastel-

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painted style, I’m basically dying for a Cherry Thomas album. The spirit of Amy Winehouse is alive in her body. Her one single, 2018’s “Black Panther,” cuts and grooves thanks to her distinctive guitar playing; meanwhile her full, confident vocals make it an infectious signal towards a starry future. On Instagram, she regularly covers pop tracks, even applying her blues to hyper-pop songs by artists like Grimes. IRL, she’s been super active at shows of all kinds during the pandemic, popping up at livestreams, socially-distanced sets and at a Social Antidote pop-up at UMOCA. Follow her on Instagram at @cherry_thomas. Cera Gibson: There are two sides to Cera Gibson, it seems— from the darkness of her music to the playfulness of her social media presence, where she’s all sunshine. Over the past few years, Gibson has released multiple works, including her 2019 album Crushed Velvet, which finds her giving in to the moodiest of musings, with spare backing instrumentals that are such because her powerful voice does all the work, all the time. Sharing a deep and sultry vocal range characteristic of many of pop’s greatest stars, Gibson could blow up at any time, if she wanted to. But her songs continue to grow around her voice, like on early 2020 singles including “Idea of Me’’ with its blotty synths, or “Sad Bitch,” where Gibson finds empowerment in “getting fucked up to the rhythm and blues”—very Lana Del Rey, but with teeth. However, the Gibson we get on social media is totally different. She posts everything from acapella TikTok videos, to covers of songs as far-flung from her style as “Mother” by Danzig, to original acoustic songs she wrote while “on lunch break.” Until she slips back into her usual femme fatale fare at an IRL show, follow her at @ceragibson. Cherish DeGraaf: I don’t often find opportunity to talk about this Provo-based artist with no albums or EPs out, especially in a year of few live shows. But with singles released in stops and starts since 2017, she’s slowly built up a honeyed indie style that draws on folk, time-worn singer-songwriter aesthetics and pop. Her range extends from electronic tracks like 2017’s “Ghost,” to songs like 2019’s “Silverwings,” a bold five-and-a-half minute track which soars gracefully into Americana territory with an assist from violin and confident acoustic plucking. DeGraaf recalls the growing tradition of underground indie stars like Julien Baker, with whom she shares similarly smooth vocals—but with brighter eyes and less gloom. Her 2021 single “Void” combines all her best inclinations from past work to offer a promising look at her future, which most recently found her putting out a cover of “Wonderwall” that goes beyond the typical “anyway here’s ‘Wonderwall’” covers that abound. DeGraaf also dabbles in music writing herself, on her blog Unyieldingly Melancholic, where she writes about “sad songs.” Follow her on Instagram at @ ummcherish. CW

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Even for one of Utah’s most prolific folk artists, this pandemic has been one of adaptation. Luckily for Kate MacLeod, transitioning her diverse style of music to a digital format during this time has resulted in her crafting a new weekly tradition for her fans to enjoy. Each Sunday, MacLeod streams live on Facebook for her Sing Your Heart Out Online Sing-In, where she performs covers, original songs and deep cuts that never made it to one of her many albums—on Valentine’s Day, she sang a charming track called “That Kind of Love Goes Far.” An expert on the violin and on guitar and harmonica, MacLeod’s brand of Americana folk blends influences like bluegrass and classical with farther-flung Celtic and Eastern European traditions. This mixing of traditions has earned her fame across the country among her contemporaries, admiration by way of covers of her songs, and awards like the Folk Alliance International’s Best of the West Award, which she won in 2019. She’s also toured all over the world, which makes the chance to see her from your very own living room a unique opportunity. Past Sing-Ins are saved and posted up on her YouTube channel for your re-viewing pleasure (youtube.com/macleodkate). This week’s upcoming episode will stream on Facebook as usual, but with a special twist as the second episode of her St. Patrick’s Day special, where in addition to her usual angelic singing and pleasant between-talk, she provides some education on topics such as Irish Fiddle Tunes and more. Visit facebook.com/KateMacLeodMusic Sunday at 7 p.m. to tune in.

Studio Saturday at Provo’s Covey Center for the Arts

Everybody knows that Utah County’s full of some of Utah’s most vibrant talent, and a bunch of it will be on display this Saturday, March 20 at the Covey Center. For starters, there’s Cherish DeGraaf, who’s mentioned in our feature story this week, and alongside her, the night will be filled out by five other artists, including Steven Fogamomi. Fogamomi’s style is suited to a lineup next to folks like DeGraaf, with a low-key indie pop approach that spices things up thanks to rousing keyboard parts on songs like this year’s “Up Late” and funky guitar riffs on “The Sea.” They’ll also be joined by Eli Jaxon, an artist with only a few tracks out, but whose music seems to meld electric guitar parts with what would otherwise be straightforward balladry on songs like “Waiting for Summer,” featuring Macy Garrett. Other folks on the lineup include Jason Fullmer (who performs as Mr. Notewordy), Neil Mayfield and Izzy Searcy. Tickets for this lineup are only $5, available online or at the door—and obviously with all in-person shows these days, it’s worth trying to get a ticket as soon as possible, since there is limited seating available. Doors are at 6:15 p.m., and info for this event and others at the Covey Center can be found at provo.org/ community/covey-center-for-the-arts. Face coverings are required and sociallydistanced seating will be enforced.

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Song of the Week: “long story short” by Taylor Swift

Yeah, yeah, yeah: Taylor Swift is such an obvious pop star to chat on about, and I’ve mentioned her more in the last year than you could have ever paid me to believe I would before the pandemic hit. But the truth is, the revival of Taylor Swift, Americana Queen has been, I think, one of the triumphs in art during this strange year of the virus. On her second surprise album of 2020, evermore, there are more of the same kinds of songs that are on the first surprise album, folklore—on both, she indulges in rich story weaving, the kind of songwriting that made her famous as a teenager who loved country clichés. On evermore, there’s one particularly danceable track called “long story short” that I like to turn on often. Backed up by a skippy, papery beat and Swift’s winking charisma, it’s a song that returns to the self-mythologizing that Swift is also famous for, but which she mostly departs from on these two pandemic albums. It could be a sequel to her 2017 single “Look What You Made Me Do,” where she leaned into media gossip about her being a twisted narcissist. On “long story short,” Swift sings to her younger self: “Past me / I wanna tell you not to get lost in these petty things.” While reminiscing on her less wise days of dying on every hill, she warmly recounts the abandoning of drama and battles to instead enjoy the simplicity of a good relationship. It’s a wholesome arc packaged in a catchy song, and when she sums up the travails leading up to her happy ending (“Long story short / it was a bad ti-ime!”), it’s tempting to turn it up and shake off one’s own bad times.

Salt Lake County Arts & Culture-run venues are reopening this spring, and in addition to the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and the Eccles Theater making way for dance, comedy and performance art, Abravanel Hall is bringing fine music back to the ears of SLC residents. This isn’t their first time round with reopening; they tried it out for a few hopeful months between September 2020 and the end of November, when they were forced to close as cases rose around Thanksgiving. But with the loss of traditional holiday shows performed by the Utah Symphony at the hall, there comes the jubilant opportunity of welcoming spring, and hopefully a year that sees COVID losing its grip on all the things we hold culturally dear. Live performances by the Utah Symphony will be starting March 25, with a slew of dates progressing well through the spring into May, which should thrill those who have been missing their Mozart, wishing for Wagner, for Bach to come back, etc. Unlike solo artists or bands of a few people, classical acts like the symphony are a little more difficult to enjoy virtually—the grandiosity of an orchestra hinges on the acoustics of grand halls, after all. So it’s surely also a relief to the players, too, who likely didn’t get much chance to enjoy that unique thrill of playing in a great hall, to actual people, for most of the last year. And though these new dates ride alongside the statewide mask mandate lifting on April 10, masks and social distancing will still be required while attending each show. Find out more info on these upcoming dates at saltlakecountyarts.org.

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A special night at Kilby Court is coming up here on Thursday, March 18, where young local up-and-comer Jonzey will release his first album a year after his EP Set Apart debuted. Digging deep into the soft bedroom genre, Jonzey’s compositions are delicate, smothered rather than hushed, in the way that matches a certain kind of day—one spent at home, overcast sunlight the only light around, the kind of lazy gloom that feels all too accessible these days. On the five-track Set Apart, Jonzey established this sound for himself with modest synth keyboards and barely-there warped vocals on thrumming tracks like “Missed Calls.” Elsewhere, on songs like “Blue Eyes,” acoustic loops and lo-fi, blanketed beats sound like a muggy, hazy summer day that might—but probably won’t— break out into a thunderstorm. On “Secondhand,” from the same EP, Jonzey sings in a ridiculously small voice something that sounds like “run, run, run, away, now you’ve gone and fucked it up, now I’m gonna run away,” which in its mutedness does a good job of translating the kind of shame that goes into running away. More recent singles like “My Dear” and “This Moment,” also both from 2020, feature lusher production, building on the thin, woolen sound of his prior releases while keeping the same soothing qualities. It will be interesting to see how these qualities show up on his first album, The Tangled Web We Wove. Opening is Harvey Milk Boulevard, tickets are $15 and the show’s doors are at 6 p.m. Visit kilbycourt.com for tickets and info on COVID protocols.

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CINEMA Crowd Pleasing

Remembering what it’s like to share a great movie moment with an audience. BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

AVAILABLE THROUGH

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t’s a Monday morning, on Day EleventyBillion of working from home, and I’ve slipped down an Internet rabbit hole. Usually, such a thing would involve a subject leaving me angry—about politics, about society in general, etc. This time, it left me unable to hold back tears. The cause was something that has been making the rounds on and off over the past several pandemic months, popping up as social media links: videos of people in movie theaters, watching the most crowdpleasing moments of recent blockbusters, particularly 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. I listened as people absolutely lost their minds when Captain America wielded Thor’s hammer, or when Black Panther returned to life and emerged from a portal. It’s not even the first time I’d seen one of these in the past year, and I’d likely characterize my previous response as, “Aw, that’s great, someday again …” But not this time. Gentle reader, I wept. And as I moved on to the next one, I wept some more. This is fraught territory for a critic to step into, so it feels like a few caveats are in order. Because the Marvel Cinematic Universe is such a lightning rod for controversy—becoming central to every shouting match between the “let people like things” and “maybe let other kinds of movies get more cultural oxygen” contingents—it’s hard to tiptoe through the DMZ of “there’s good and bad.” This is decidedly not a defense of superhero movies as the only kind

of movie that justifies a return to the theatrical moviegoing experience. And come on now, movies that make billions of dollars don’t really need anybody’s defense. It’s also almost too obvious for a critic to cheerlead for movie theaters as the best way to watch movies. We’ve survived the past 12 months with creative innovations (like art-house virtual cinemas) and the relative ubiquity of streaming services, and those have been great ways to continue enjoying movies while not everyone felt safe returning to theaters. There is no one right place to watch a movie. That said: A collective experience of watching a movie is just different. It’s not always better-different, as anyone who has been frustrated by cell phone lights or crying babies can attest. But there are moviegoing experiences that absolutely change the way a movie works. That’s certainly the case for comedies; it’s been hard to watch weird delights like Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar over the past year, and not wonder what they might have felt like in a room full of a couple

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hundred other folks laughing hysterically. And yes, it’s true of stuff like Avengers: Endgame. The Marvel Cinematic Universe spent a decade building up affection for its characters, and the grand culmination of Endgame was exactly the kind of movie story that primed its audience to explode at all the right moments. The people who crafted those moments knew exactly what and where they would be. They were calculated as “applause breaks.” But they worked—and they worked best because everyone there was sharing them. Over the years, I’ve related anecdotes about my first real job as a teenager, working as a movie-theater usher in Central California circa 1984-1985. During my 18 months there, I’d figure out what scenes in certain movies were the ones that worked the crowd to perfection: the “crane kick” finale of The Karate Kid; Eddie Murphy popping up in the back of Taggart and Rosewood’s car in Beverly Hills Cop; Sarah Connor emerging victorious in The Terminator; a tongue-kiss phone call in A Nightmare on Elm Street. I’d be sure to position myself at

Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame

the back of the theater when those moments were about to happen, just so I could soak up the cheers, the laughter, the screams. It was intoxicating. I loved that movies could do that to people, and that those moments were heightened in the company of strangers, in the dark. Maybe it was the chatter surrounding the Disney+ WandaVision series, or the arrival of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier this week, that reminded me how long it’s been since those kinds of stories have been in theaters. Maybe it’s the falling infection numbers and rising rate of vaccinations providing a sense of hope for relative normalcy being around the corner. Whatever the reason, I found myself crying as I realized how special those moments are, and how much I miss them. Unashamedly, I raise a glass to crowd-pleasers, anxiously anticipating the day when we remember how much the “crowd” part of that expression matters. CW

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B R E Z S N Y

Go to realastrology.com for Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text-message horoscopes. Audio horoscopes also available by phone at 877-873-4888 or 900-950-7700.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Poet Ocean Vuong speaks of the Hawaiian word kipuka. It refers to a patch of earth that doesn’t get covered with lava when an active volcano exudes its molten material. “Before the lava descended,” Vuong writes, “that piece of land was insignificant, just another scrap in an endless mass of green.” But now that piece of land is special, having endured. I encourage you to identify your metaphorical equivalent of kipuka, Aries. It’s an excellent time to celebrate the power and luck and resilience that have enabled you to persevere. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) “Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look,” writes Taurus author Jodi Picoult. Luckily for you, Taurus, in the near future, you’ll be prone to look in exactly those places—where no one else has thought to look. That means you’ll be extra likely to find useful, interesting, even extraordinary things that have mostly been hidden and unused. You may also discover some boring and worthless things, but the trade-off will be worth your effort. Congratulations in advance on summoning such brave curiosity. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) “When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice,” said Gemini author Saul Bellow. So, if you have come here today to read my horoscopes, it’s possible that you’re seeking an accomplice to approve of you making a decision or a move that you have already decided to do. OK. I’ll be your accomplice. But as your accomplice, the first thing I’ll do is try to influence you to make sure your upcoming actions serve not only your own selfish interests (although there’s nothing wrong with that), but also serve the interests of people you care for. The weeks ahead will be a favorable time to blend self-interest and noble idealism.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Some of the great discoveries in the history of physics have been made while the trailblazing physicists are lolling in bed or in the bathtub. They have done the research and carried out the rigorous thinking, and they are rewarded with breakthroughs while relaxing. I think that will be your best formula for success in the coming weeks. Important discoveries are looming. Interesting innovations are about to hatch. You’re most likely to gather them in if you work intensely on preparing the way for them, then go off and do something fun and rejuvenating. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) My typical horoscope is an average of 108 words long. In that limited space, I can’t possibly tell you all the themes and threads that will be active for you during the upcoming phase of your cycle. I have to make choices about what to include and what not to include. This time I’ll focus on the fact that you now have an opportunity to deepen your relationship with your sense of smell—and to purposefully nourish your sense of smell. Your homework: Decide on at least five scents with which you will cultivate an intimate, playful, delightful connection in the coming days. (PS: You may be surprised at how this practice will deepen your emotional connection with the world.) PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) No one had ever proven that there was such a thing as electromagnetic waves until Piscean physicist Heinrich Hertz (1857– 1894) did so in 1886. He was the innovator who first transmitted and received controlled radio waves. Alas, he didn’t think his breakthrough was useful. In 1890, he confessed, “I do not think that the wireless waves I have discovered will have any practical application.” But other scientists were soon capitalizing on his work to communicate long distances. Radio broadcasts were born. I will encourage you not to make a Hertzian-type mistake in the coming months. Always follow through on your initial labors. Have faith that the novelties you dream up will eventually have practical value.

Glover Nursery is now accepting applications for our 2021 Team! • Cashier and Information Desk • Delivery and Installation • Sales • Diagnostics • Inventory Maintenance • Front Loader • Landscape Designer • Inventory Management - back office • More roles available, check our website for details: https://glovernursery.com/employment/ While gardening industry experience or horticulture degrees are needed for some positions, there are many positions available where experience is not required. We look forward to welcoming a great team for another great year! The Royal is now hiring bartenders and servers. We are a busy bar/live music venue. For more info and to schedule an interview call 801-550-4451

REAL ESTATE Buying or selling? I can help! Call Paula Saltas, Chapman Richards. 801-573-6811 or paula@chapmanrichards.com Home Loans made Brizzee. Julie BriZAY makes home buying ea-ZAY! Loan Officer NMLS#243253. Julie Brizzee. 2750 E Cottonwood Pkwy, Suite 660. Cottonwood Heights UT 84020 801-971-2574. Intercap Lending. Providing all Mortage Loan Services. This is not a commitment to lend. Program restrictions apply. Company NMLS#190465. Intercaplending.com Equal Housing Lender.

APARTMENT RENTALS DOWNTOWN: Deal! 1 bdrm condo! Wall mounted A/C. tile, on-site hot tub, covered parking. On Site landry $850. Call Partlow rentals. 801-4844446 or visit us at partlowrents.com MILLCREEK: Must have 1 bdrm. Private balcony, extra storage, washer dryer inc. covered parking, on-site pool, swamper cooler. $895. Call Partlow rentals. 801-484-4446 or visit us at partlowrents.com

CARS

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INSURANCE

Need Health Insurance? A Special Enrollment Period has been opened from 2/15-5/15. We are a free resource, and our services are available to anyone who needs help finding coverage. Give us a call! McDonald Insurance Services 801-576-6412.

WELLNESS

Virtual Zumba Classes with Jenny! Sign up at: zumbafitnesscalendar.punchpass.com 20% off discount code: ZUMBAJENNYB (get a monthly punch card for 20$!) Classes on Mondays 3 p.m., Wednesdays 7:30 a.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. Zumba is a great way to lose weight, tone up and get your cardio in while having fun! Come join the fitness dance party! Contact: Jenny @ 801-674-8434 Love First Mindset Life Coaching/ Mentoring Have you been looking for help stepping into your full potential? Did you know this can be accomplished with a “Love First Mindset”. Contact Lacy today to set up a 30 min free Zoom session to see if Life Coaching is a fit for you! Learn to love yourself again! lovefirstmindset@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Have junk? I will haul it away, small and medium sized loads! Great time to clean up. Starts at only $30. Call 801-856-9500. Green Think recycling/New recycling company in Utah. Waste to landfill reduction by 70-80%. New methods, changing the game, savin’ the motha lovin’ world for all you motha lovers. Call Sean at Green Think Recycling & Services. Call 801-310-9379. Cash for wrecked and nonrunning vehicles. TOP DOLLAR on 2006 and answer. Lost title? We can help. We to it away for free. Call 801889-2488. CARSOLDFORCASH.COM Catering: For outdoor catering, Greek and American food. All cooking on site. 8th Street Catering, call Chris 801-856-9500.

MARCH 18, 2021 | 37

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Virgo author Michael Ondaatje celebrates “the hidden presence of others in us—even those we have known briefly. We contain them for the rest of our lives, at every border we cross.” As you approach your own upcoming border-crossing, dear Virgo, I encourage you to tune into memories about seven specific people who over the course of your life have provided you with the most joy and the most interesting lessons. Close your eyes for 20 minutes and imagine they are all gathered together with you in your favorite sanctuary. Remember in detail the blessings they bestowed on you. Give thanks for their influences, for the gifts they gave that have helped you become your beautiful self.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Historian and author Thomas Berry described “wildness” as the source of our “authentic spontaneities.” He said it’s “the wellspring of creativity” at the root of our lust for life. That’s a different definition from the idea that wildness is about being unruly, rough and primitive. And Berry’s definition happens to be the one that should be central to your work and play in the coming weeks. Your assignment is to be wild: that is, to cultivate your authentic spontaneities; to home in on and nourish the creative wellspring of your lust for life.

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) If you love the work of self-help author Paulo Coelho, you might be inclined to adopt his motto as your own: “Being vulnerable is the best way to allow my heart to feel true pleasure.” But maybe you wouldn’t want to adopt his motto. After all, what he’s suggesting requires a great deal of courage and daring. Who among us finds it easy and natural to be soft and receptive and inviting? And yet according to my analysis of the astrological omens, this is exactly what your assignment should be for the next two weeks. To help motivate yourself, remember the payoff described by Coelho: the possibility that your heart will feel true pleasure.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) In her poem “Sandra,” Scorpio poet Ariana Reines testifies that she has too many feelings—and that’s not a problem. On the contrary. They are her wealth, she says, her “invisible splendor.” I invite you to regard your own “too many feelings” in the same way, especially in the coming weeks. You will have opportunities to harness your flood of feelings on behalf of transformative insights and holistic decision-making. Your motto: Feelings are healing.

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CANCER (June 21-July 22) A character in Barbara Kingsolver’s novel The Lacuna is told to “go rub his soul against life.” Now I’ll advise you to do the same. Why? While it’s true that you have a beautiful soul, you sometimes get in the habit of hiding it away or keeping it secret. You feed it a wealth of dreams and emotions and longings but may not go far enough in providing it with raw experience out in the messy, chaotic world. In my judgment, now is one of those times when you would benefit from rubbing your soul against life. Please note: I don’t mean you should go in search of rough, tough downers. Not at all. In fact, there are plenty of pleasurable, safe, educational ways to rub your soul against life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) “A balance that does not tremble cannot weigh. A person who does not oscillate cannot live.” So wrote biochemist Erwin Chargaff, who did crucial research leading to the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure. Since you’re the zodiac’s expert on balance and oscillation, and because these themes will be especially meaningful for you in the coming days, I’ll ask you to meditate on them with extra focus. Here’s my advice: To be healthy and resilient, you need to be aware of other possibilities besides those that seem obvious and simple and absolutely true. You need to consider the likelihood that the most correct answers are almost certainly those that are paradoxical and complicated and full of nuance.

RIP

BY DAVID LEVINSON WILK

ACROSS

1. Horrid creature 2. Rice, e.g.: Abbr. 3. Marathon finish line 4. Horrid Tolkien creatures 5. Winter malady 6. “Little Women” surname 7. Piece of punditry

Too Much (Good) News

8. ____ sequitur 9. Right on the money 10. This point forward 11. Sunburn cause 12. Eavesdrop 13. Food Network regular Brown 18. Nicolas who directed “The Man Who Fell to Earth” 22. Place for a mud bath 23. Hand, in Honduras 24. They hold your horses 25. “____ to disagree” 26. “The View” cohost Haines 27. Inventor of the cotton gin 28. Gala remnants? 29. One-named singer with the 2019 Song of the Year nominee “Hard Place” 30. Butcher shop buys 32. White-collar crime 34. “The ____ the limit!” 36. Love, in telenovelas 37. Honorary deg. for many a writer 38. “Toy Story” dinosaur 43. Most frigid 44. Part of NIMBY 45. Logician for whom math diagrams are named

46. Croupiers’ tools 47. They may follow booms 49. Zipped 50. Native language of 50 million citizens of India 51. Leave slack-jawed 52. Pastrami purveyor 53. Fine things? 55. Late “Notorious” Supreme Court justice 56. “This American Life” host Glass 57. Flooring wood option

Last week’s answers

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

DOWN

URBAN L I V I N

WITH BABS DELAY Broker, Urban Utah Homes & Estates, urbanutah.com

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9.

1. No longer having in stock 6. Lisa in the Louvre 10. Kind of skirt 14. Knot on a trunk 15. Each 16. Sinister 17. Words at a funeral for the swiftest part of a stream? 19. Take a breather 20. 12/24 and 12/31, notably 21. Condition for Jack Nicholson’s character in “As Good as It Gets,” in brief 22. “El ____ Sentido” (Bruce Willis película) 23. “I could go either way” 24. Words at a funeral for a tournament? 26. Witch enemy of Popeye 30. It has a cedar tree on its flag 31. Austrian peaks, locally 32. ____ gras 33. Kim, to Kourtney or Khloé 35. Words at a funeral for the loud guy at the end of the bar? 39. Leatherworker’s tool 40. Operates, as a booth 41. “Bad, bad” Brown of song 42. Worse than awful 45. Temptresses 46. Words at a funeral for a charger attachment? 47. Exacta or trifecta 48. Took a loss 49. Overhead heater 50. ____-certified organic 54. An athlete may take one in protest 55. Words at a funeral for a noisy bull? 58. Prey for barracudas 59. “American Psycho” author ____ Easton Ellis 60. ____ supervision 61. Part of GPS: Abbr. 62. Roams (about) 63. Mila of “Black Swan”

SUDOKU

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38 | MARCH 18, 2021

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

A lot of folks are going to be happy when $1,400 from ol’ Uncle Sam lands in their bank accounts in the coming weeks. That is, if your adjusted gross income is below $75,000 (or, if you’re married and make less than $150,000, you’ll get $2,800). The payments are based on your 2019 or 2020 income depending on when you filed your 2020 tax return. Good news is that if you owe taxes, that amount won’t be taken out of your stimulus check assuming you qualify for the $1,400 windfall. The stimulus package that Biden just signed also extends unemployment benefits from the feds for those who qualify until Sept. 6, 2021—to the tune of an additional $300 a week (that’s added on top of any Utah state unemployment benefits). Better yet, people who got unemployment benefits in 2020 will not be taxed on the first $10,200 of that income. (Believe it or not, unemployment benefits are generally taxed during non-pandemic years.) Locally, the Utah Legislature just ended its 45-day session and tried to make a dent in our state’s housing crisis. First, with HB347, the state will fund a designated housing/ homelessness “czar” who will stand atop the mountain to oversee homeless and lowincome projects and programs. This person will oversee a new Office of Homeless Services within the Department of Workforce Services and sit on the newly formed Utah Homelessness Council with state officials, members of the Legislature, mayors, members of the public, service providers and religious leaders. There are also state funds going to preserve what few affordable housing units we still have. Simply stated, when an apartment building gets old and ratty, the owner(s) might sell it to a flipper, and the property is torn down and replaced with higher-priced housing. This bill will help rehab older buildings to use as affordable-housing units. Another related bill (finally!) that passed is SB164, which requires Utah to conduct an inventory of surplus state-owned property to see if any properties can be used/converted to affordable housing. That one is a big “d’oh!” I’ve been waiting to see for years! The other bill I supported and even wrote in support of was HB82. We’re down almost 50,000 affordable housing units in this state, and one of the answers to this crisis is allowing people to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property. Basically, it standardizes the myriad city to city/county to county rules to allow for more ADUs to exist for parents who want to modify the “shack in the back” to let Grandma or the kids live there. It’s hell for property owners in many cases to get these simple dwellings approved, and hopefully this bill will make it easier to do so in the future to help expand affordable-housing options in Utah. n Content is prepared expressly for Community and is not endorsed by City Weekly staff.

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MARCH 18, 2021 | 39

Inexplicable Natasha Harris of Lillian, Alabama, called the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office on Feb. 28 after her granddaughter’s pet goat, Billy the Kid, returned home from one of his frequent adventures around their rural neighborhood painted from head to toe. Harris told Fox 10 News she suspected local teens had stolen and abused the goat, but investigators followed the goat’s trail to Erica Farmer, who was visiting relatives nearby, and arrested her for theft of property and animal cruelty. Farmer has since apologized for dying the goat with colored shampoo and food coloring, and Harris now wants the charges dropped, telling the district attorney’s office, “I’m really sorry for wasting your time.” Just Deserts In late February, Thangulla Satish, 45, was killed in Telangana state in southern India when the rooster he was preparing for an illegal cockfight panicked and slashed him with the 3-inch blade strapped to its leg. Police inspector B. Jeevan said Satish was “hit by the rooster’s knife in his groin and started bleeding heavily,” the Associated Press reported. He died on the way to the hospital. The rooster was removed to a poultry farm nearby. Oops! Mates Jackson Perry and Noah Palmer of Mandurah, Western Australia, planned a leisurely float offshore, drinking beer on a blowup air mattress on Feb. 27, but they wound up stranded in the Indian Ocean for nearly three hours after the wind blew them out to sea. “We couldn’t paddle against the wind, and we just kept going further and further out,” Perry told 7News, but they did manage to call a friend, who reached them on his jet ski just before their cellphones died. “We were kind of getting worried at that point,” Perry said, but the beers helped with the anxiety. Mystery Police in Hertfordshire, England, received about 100 complaints over a three-day period from people parked at a Tesco store in Royston who reported their car alarms inexplicably went off, and they couldn’t use their key fobs to lock or unlock their vehicles. Communications watchdog company Ofcom told the BBC in March 1 its investigators checked the area for signs of interference, but found nothing. No cars have been reported stolen, and police said they were not treating the incidents as malicious. Devil’s in the Details Amazon released a new icon for its shopping app in January with what was supposed to look like a jagged piece of tape on a package above Amazon’s smiling arrow logo but instead reminded some viewers of Adolf Hitler’s mustache, CBS News reported. After Twitter users commented on the resemblance, Amazon tweaked the art and rolled out a more squared-off version in late February. Cliche Come to Life Wendi Dale Hird, 56, was arrested at her home in Largo, Florida, late on Feb. 28 after throwing her cat in her 73-year-old male roommate’s face, causing the cat to scratch him, according to arrest records. Police say she then struck the man in the face. Hird was charged with domestic battery on a person over the age of 65, reported The Smoking Gun. (Bonus: Hird was arrested in 2018 for allegedly battering the same man, described in court documents as a platonic roommate, but was not prosecuted.) Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

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Wait, What? On Feb. 23, Siriporn Niamrin, 49, discovered a large, waxy, oval-shaped lump that smelled of fish and weighed about 15 pounds along the beach near her home in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand, and was excited to learn it may be a rare substance called ambergris, or vomit produced by sperm whales. The Mirror reported ambergris is highly prized in making perfume, and it might be worth as much as $260,000. “If I really have the genuine ambergris, I can help my community once I find a buyer for it,” Niamrin said. “I’m keeping it safe in my house” as she waits for expert confirmation of its authenticity. Multitasking Northern California plastic surgeon Scott Green surprised officials in Sacramento Superior Court on Feb. 25 when he appeared for a traffic trial via videoconference from what appeared to be an operating room, the Sacramento Bee reported. As clicks and whirs of medical equipment and suctions could be heard in the background, a courtroom clerk questioned his whereabouts, and Green, dressed in hospital scrubs, admitted, “Yes, I’m in an operating room right now. I’m available for trial. Go right ahead.” Despite Green’s repeated assurances, Court Commissioner Gary Link was skeptical: “I do not feel comfortable for the welfare of a patient if you’re in the process of operating ... I don’t think that’s appropriate.” The trial was rescheduled for later in March. California’s Medical Board said in a statement it was investigating the incident. Crime Report Sharon Carr of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was arrested by officers responding to a residential burglary call on Feb. 26 when she stepped from the shadows in front of the victim’s house. Investigators found a window screen removed and a window open, where they allege Carr entered the home but quickly left, leaving behind an empty Cheetos bag and a water bottle. Cheetos residue on Carr’s teeth linked her to the crime, reported KTULTV, along with testimony from the victim. Carr was charged with first-degree burglary. The Foreign Press Diplomats and their families from the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea, worked around extreme COVIDinduced travel restrictions by pushing themselves across the border in a rail trolley to reach their home country on Feb. 25, the BBC reported. The group of eight, including children, traveled 32 hours by train and two hours by bus to reach the Russian border, but trains and wagons cannot enter or leave North Korea, so the embassy’s third secretary, Vladislav Sorokin, completed the last half-mile of the journey by pushing the trolley filled with the group and their baggage on train tracks over the Tumen River, where they were met by Russian officials at the border station. Animal Antics EuroWeekly reported that on Feb. 24, a routine Sudanese Tarco airline flight from Khartoum to Doha, Qatar, was forced to turn around about a half-hour after takeoff when a stowaway cat caused a midair emergency. The cat gained entry to the cockpit and became aggressive, attacking the crew, who were unable to restrain it, prompting the pilot to return to the airport. Officials believe the cat got onto the airplane while it was parked overnight in a hangar in Khartoum.

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40 | MARCH 18, 2021

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