Utah Stories February 2022

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UTAH STORIES MAGAZINE

6 Utah Stories Contributors 12 I QUIT

What to do when it all

becomes too much

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 20

22 Let It Snow Snowmobile season is upon us

24 Spooky Dating Ideas For a frightful good time

14 Three Utah 28 Jam Night Counites Gracies hosts weekly jam Surprising finds in Box Elder, Cache, and Morgan counties

18 An Island Getaway Via The Freeway

sessions that welcome all

40 Designer Dogs Crossing breeds for positive results

42 HEXEH Dimitri Allouch fragrances

Utah's island vacation getaway

44 Ken Sanders Book New Venue Rare book store will move to The Leonardo

SPOTLIGHT 32 Ogden

36 Food

Ogden's Marshall White

Playing With Your Food

Center

LOCAL & AWESOME? Utah Stories invites excellent local businesses to inquire about our advertising rates and determine if our readership is a good fit. For more information please contact Richard at 801-856-3595 or visit utahstories.com/advertising WE POST STORIES AND PHOTOS ALL THE TIME. FOLLOW US @UTAHSTORIES PUBLISHER/EDITOR

Fletcher Marchant

ILLUSTRATOR

Amiee Maxwell

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chris Bodily

Cathy McKitrick

Dung Hoang

WRITERS

M. Shane Richins

COPY EDITORS

Mike Jones

Kristen Clay

Ted Scheffler

Connie Lewis

David Jensen

Braden Latimer

Danny B. Stewart

SALES & ACCOUNTS

Al Sacharov

Alison Lafazan

Golda Hukic-Markosian

Connie Lewis

COVER

Golda Hukic-Markosian

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Richard Markosian

Richard Markosian

Illustration by Chris Bodily

Elizabeth Callahan

Anna Lythgoe

AnDrea Nez

Richard Markosian PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT

DIGITAL PUBLISHER & MARKETING & EVENTS Golda Hukic-Markosian

4 | utahstories.com

ONLINE PREVIEW

Go to UtahStories.com to find exclusive online content: •

Read about fine dining at Mariposa in Silver Lake Lodge at Deer Valley Resort. From food writer Ted Scheffler.

•

Is Utah turning into California? Richard Markosian takes a deep dive into what is happening in our state in the article The Californication of Utah.

•

Explore a new recipe every Friday in our Utah Bites content.

Ted Scheffler brings readers recipes such as Pommes Frites, Indian-Style Beef Curry, Cheese Fondue, and more.

•

Richard Markosian continues his series on homelessness in Utah with Homeless Families Brave the Cold Rather Than Stay in Shelters and Why is the 600% Increase in Homeless Spending Resulting in More Homelessness?

COMING SOON: •

Follow our Fun Guide to San Juan County. Rachel Fixsen writes about what’s happening there.

Visit UtahStories.com for more stories and podcasts by Richard Markosian and restaurant reviews, recipes and events by Ted Scheffler

BEHIND THE STORIES Mike Jones Mike has been a Utah stories contributor of photography and articles since 2012. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, nature and portrait photography, whisky and craft beer tastings.

Earlier this year he earned his masters degree in library science with a concentration in archiving from Emporia State University.

“My favorite thing about Utah has got to be the history,” Mike says. “There are so many weird and interesting things that have happened here. The outdoor scene is pretty great as well; summer or winter, there’s always something to do, and lots of great people to do it with.”

The reason he likes contributing to Utah Stories? “The people I get to meet. I get to play an active role in spreading the news about what makes Utah great, and I get to do it with my camera.”

M. Shane Richins M. Shane Richins was born in Utah and is now a small business owner in the Salt Lake valley. In between those endpoints, he has moved around a bit, mostly within Utah, but has also lived in other states and has done some world traveling. In the end, he found that Utah, with it’s extremely varied terrain, is the most magical.

As far as writing goes, his passion is comedy. As far as reading goes, he is a big fan of non-fiction, specifically books about science and skepticism. Beyond literature, he loves outdoor sports such as rock climbing, paddle boarding and hiking with his dogs.

In the past few years, Shane has involved himself in music and is learning to play guitar and bagpipes. When the world wasn’t ending, if he wasn’t in the mountains, he could be found around music; either listening to local musicians, playing at a jam, or dancing to music somewhere.

Shane really wants to experience everything, and there is much to experience and share in Utah.

Kristen Clay Storyteller Kristen Clay founded the original, award-winning Ogden and Salt Lake City Ghost Tours in 2002. Impressed by Utah’s rich culture and history, Kristen set out to study its stories. As she began interviewing the merchants and residents of Northern Utah, she came across the usual tales of pioneers, immigrants, hardships, and survival, but was surprised to hear many bizarre and interesting ghost stories among them.

In addition to being creator, and director of Story Tours: Ogden and SLC Ghost Tours, Hysterical History Tours, and custom storytelling concerts, Kristen has circled the globe as a storyteller, actor, writer, teacher, and perpetual student.

She is known for bringing various cultures alive to audiences around the world. She has a passion for healing and inspirational stories that she is often privileged to share in schools, prisons, rehab facilities, and youth-in-custody.

Kristen is the co-author of three books. Haunted Salt Lake City, Spooks and Saints, and the recently released, Ghostly Tales of Salt Lake City for middle-grades.

Her greatest joy is watching her audiences and readers make connections with different cultures and experiences, then remember their own stories.

6 | utahstories.com

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ONLINE COMMMENTS

Commenting on - Californicaiton of Utah: Utah’s Homeless Problems and Drug Epidemic

UTAHSTORIES.COM

The Californication of Utah - Utah Stories

The number of homeless in Salt Lake is increasing with the increase of housi...

Comment from: Psivast Makes me wonder if one of the reasons they don’t like the shelters, is because they can’t use drugs/alcohol when there. If these homeless people are addicts, then it’s only logical to suppose that’s the biggest motivating factor in their decision making process. As a former drug addict, I know the power of these chemicals and the destruction they create in the mind.

Get rid of the drugs/alcohol then you can work on solving the problem.

Comment from: Sun Street homeless live very simple and modest life. It’s really a minimalist type of life. They don’t need much, so they don’t ask for much. They find a camping spot, and it becomes their new home with new stories and memories. They prefer being left alone as they are. The only thing they really want and think about all day long is fentanyl. 99% of street homeless are fentanyl addicts, and there is no solution for it. Large majority of them will die from fentanyl overdose, or drugs related violence in this decade. Homeless encampments are nothing else but open drugs markets. Very sad.

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TIME TO

QUIT A

mericans have quit their jobs in record numbers in the past 18 months. It’s being called “the great labor shortage.” But when a massive number of people who were previously employed just choose to walk away from their jobs, perhaps this is just a return to more “traditional values.”

We have personally learned that “virtual learning” is nearly impossible with three small children. Wrangling kids to get in the car to go to school is hard enough, add to that getting the kids to sit in front of the computer and listen to a tiny teacher’s head on a Zoom call trying to explain math. It’s

12 | utahstories.com

simply impossible to also work, while trying to make a miracle akin to herding cats happen.

We have decided to refuse to participate in “virtual learning”. No learning occurs virtually with three kids under nine who can’t even sit still for a haircut. It’s a prolonged torture exercise, and kids cooped up at home easily become menaces to parents, dogs, neighbors and furniture. A laptop is no substitute for a classroom. Teachers essentially have banded together to quit encouraged by over-zealous, fearful administrators. Now parents need to quit. It’s too much. So parents

PHOTOS BY GOLDA MARKOSIAN

By Richard Markosian

witness the geological and ecological magnificence that makes Utah the most diverse and interesting landscape in the world.

Go visit the mountains, way high

are quitting in record numbers. And we are returning to single-income households.

Also, many more are quitting who were in trades that they felt were less desirable. Quitting is nice when there is a plan B. Quitting is great in a work environment where appreciation and hard work are undervalued. But quitting is extremely difficult if you have a mortgage and bills to pay; and when you want to afford to enjoy life.

So what if you can’t afford to quit?

We suggest a series of weekend getaways. Sojourns from the daily grind of the weekend. Plan to get out and

above the crowds and the smog bowl.

Snowshoe or snowmobile to the backcountry and listen to a stream for an hour while eating a picnic lunch. Visit Antelope island, where the sky touches the massive Dead Sea of the West but the lines are blurred so one cannot tell where the sky ends and the water begins. Walk along the shore and witness the thousands of birds who make the lake their home while they travel.

Visit Box Elder, Cache, and Morgan counties. Realize the vastness of space, and you begin to realize the vastness of time. Life is long. We have plenty of time to take in nature and connect with our own creation and creator, but we need to make plans.

This virus and the lifestyle changes imposed upon by our government have made depression a reality for thousands of Utahns. The dullness of eyes, the slumped shoulders and look of desperation upon faces, and the missing spark.

These attributes melt away like a massive icicle when we visit the less-populated trails. This year more than ever we need to get outside and enjoy February, the last two months of winter can be enjoyed. Depression is not inevitable if you make the effort to make plans. Go ahead and quit, quit your job if you can afford to, or quit for a weekend or two in February and make it count: revitalize, recharge and revisit your life anew after you spend plenty of time in the sunshine, clean air outside.

utahstories.com | 13

FUN GUIDE Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

UTAH COUNTIES

WORTH STAYCATIONING

By Kristen Clay

Box Elder County Box Elder County sits at the northwest corner of Utah, and is full of surprises in its diversity of offerings. There is something for everyone, including science lovers, history buffs, nature enthusiasts, and patrons of the arts.

“We have a taste of the country and a taste of the city. We love and embrace the cowboy life, ranching and farming spirit. We are very connected to the land,” longtime resident, Jennilyn McKinnon, says.

A favorite family event for the McKinnon’s is to go watch the annual sheepherding drives. The public roads are closed off, so that sheep, by the hundreds, can be driven to the meadows for grazing.

For history buffs, the Golden Spike National Historical Park is open yearround. Replicas of Victorian era steam

14 | utahstories.com

engines, walks or drives exploring historic rails, programs for children and adults, along with a museum, and reenactments of the Golden Spike ceremony in the summer months are only a few of the offerings at the Park.

For science lovers, the (Morton Thiokol) ATK Rocket Garden boasts a rocket launcher for the space shuttle as well as other rockets and engines that are manufactured at their facility.

The Bear River Migratory Bird refuge will delight nature enthusiasts. Seasonally, these 80,000 acres of marshes, open water, uplands, and alkali mudflats feature over 250 species of migrating birds as well as 67 species of nesting birds. A 12-mile auto tour route is ideal for observing wildlife, birding, and photography. The Wildlife Education Center is the best place to begin your adventure.

World famous land art, including the Spiral Jetty and Sun Tunnels are must-sees for anyone seeking a unique discovery.

Cultural arts are alive and well here.

Heritage Theatre and the Old Barn feature live musicals and plays, and The Brigham City Fine Arts Center offers a wide range of artistic performances and classes.

Crystal Hot Springs, with the highest mineral content in the world, is the perfect place to soak and relax after enjoying all Box Elder has to offer.

Cache County “Cache County is unique,” explains Gina Worthen, Northeast District County Chair of Cache County. “It is both country and urban. Full of agriculture and open space, hiking trails and areas for recreation. It has a hometown feel,” she continues. “Each city has its own annual celebrations aimed at keeping their traditions alive.”

Antique homes and buildings grace the streets of its many small towns, which, as the state’s leader in agriculture, farms and ranches, encompasses many charming towns.

Home of Utah State University, education, sports, and the arts are readily accessible both at the university and within the community.

With over thirteen theaters, opera houses, and other live performing arts venues, one can enjoy the finest of theater, opera, dance, or jam to any genre of live music.

Seven museums including the American West Heritage Center Living-museum, and even a zoo, are bound to educate, entertain, or pique the interest of visitors and locals alike.

Aggie’s famous cheeses and ice cream made at USU, as well as Gossner Foods cheese factory, will tickle the tongues of any turophile. Culinary visitors will enjoy the many local eateries including Angie’s, Beehive Pub and Grill, the Bluebird, and many more.

The grandest feature of Cache County is the great outdoors. Bear Lake State Park, often referred to as the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and Logan Canyon offer endless beauty and recreation.

Year-round outdoor recreation can be experienced in all its forms. Skiing, watersports, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, exploring on ATV’S or UTV’s, or riding upon a horse drawn wagon are just some of them.

Locals will tell you that this is “God’s Country”, and many, including Gina Worthen, will tell you that Logan Canyon “rivals Yellowstone.” National Geographic writer, Michael Sweeney, describes Logan Canyon as America’s “Last Spoiled Place” in his book by the same name.

Gossner Cheese Factory

utahstories.com | 15

Lost Creek State Park at Night

Morgan County Nested in a beautiful agricultural valley in the center of the Rocky Mountain region, lays the smallest county in Utah, Morgan County, with a total land mass of 610 sq. miles. But don’t let the small area fool you. Morgan sports an abundance of activity, wildlife, and recreation.

According to “Mama Lake,” aka Theresa Lake, owner of the Morgan Mercantile, where you will experience a sampling of local arts, culture, and the world’s best cinnamon rolls, “It is the people who make Morgan County special. The people reach out and take care of each other.”

Fishing, camping, hiking, golfing, rodeos, demolition derbies, horseback riding, boating, swimming, historical landmarks, wildlife viewing and a geographical oddity, are only a few of the delights you’ll find in this idyllic community.

Morgan County includes part of Cache National Forest and the Wasatch National Forest. East Canyon State Park attracts visitors from around the nation, and East Canyon Dam provides

16 | utahstories.com

year-round water activities, including fishing and ice fishing.

Lost Creek State Park and Round Valley Wildlife Management Area are beautifully preserved places for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities throughout the year.

The part of the Weber river that runs through Morgan County draws families and individuals out for rafting and tubing adventures. And obviously, fishing and fly fishing are perfect on this stretch of river.

One of the more unique landmarks in Morgan county is the geological formation of Devil’s Slide, or Devil’s Blade, according to Native American tradition. It has the appearance of a gargantuan playground slide as parallel limestone rocks about 25 feet apart extend up the mountainside. Located off I-84 between mile markers 110 and 111, there are pull-offs on both sides of the freeway for viewing.

“Morgan County is such a wonderful place. There is so much beauty and so many things to do. People often come to visit, and they like it so much, they move here,” states Carol Brooks of the Morgan Business Association.

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FUN GUIDE

Sunset from the back side of Antelope Island

An Island Getaway Via The Freeway

By Kristen Clay

A

t this time of year, many of us long for an Island escape. Fortunately, a placid island paradise is close at hand.

Travel toward Layton, get off at Antelope Drive (Exit 332) and head west.

From there it is a smooth seven-mile drive to the causeway that leads to Antelope Island.

Antelope Island State Park, found in Salt Lake City’s own backyard, has something for everyone year-round.

The 42-square-mile-island hosts a diverse and unique ecosystem as well as a rich and interesting history.

18 | utahstories.com

Get your binoculars and cameras out at the entrance booth, because even the causeway offers beauty along its route, including thousands of shore birds, a military memorial, and tranquil bays on either side.

The visitor center is a good starting point for your island adventure.

It offers an art gallery, along with educational displays about the island’s wildlife, history and geography. A video showcasing the island’s features can be viewed in a small auditorium.

You can obtain maps and expert ad-

PHOTOS BY ANDREA NEZ & GOLDA HUKIC-MARKOSIAN

Antelope Island has beaches and bison

vice from volunteers and park rangers concerning the island’s topography, geography and geology. The visitor center gift shop includes bird and wildlife identification cards as well as seasonal items such as hats and nets to protect against “no-see-ums”, also known as biting midges. You will also find employees and volunteers who love and have experienced the island to the fullest.

Rachelle Maughan works in the gift shop. Along with her sons, she enjoys exploring the island’s uniqueness. “I have been in awe of its beauty, even in the winter,” she said. It is a photographer’s paradise. Her 16-year-old son has been capturing the island’s beauty in his photos as well.

The island can be explored by foot, bike, horseback or car.

There are trails ranging from easy to challenging back-country adventures where camping is permitted.

All wildlife has the right of way.

Take pictures, but most important, respect the wildlife and keep your distance.

From Lady Finger Point, you can see Egg Island, a vital nesting ground for migrating and local bird species. To protect the habitat, humans are strictly prohibited from Egg Island.

Burrowing owls can often be seen in the area past the visitor’s center

driveway. Bison can be seen almost anywhere on the island as they roam freely about. Pronghorn antelope are indigenous to the island, which is also home to mule deer, bighorn sheep, porcupine, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, owls, bats, chukars, scorpions, lizards, gopher snakes and rabbits, just to name a few.

Bridger Bay has the best beach for swimming when water levels are normal. Parking, restrooms, freshwater showers, and the Island Buffalo Grill are available. With the current drought condition, it is a mile walk from the beachfront to the water.

Buffalo Point Trail is a favored location for a half-mile hike with a gorgeous view. Buffalo Point has a public

telescope, picnic tables and restrooms.

Park visitor AnDrea Nez completed the Buffalo Point Trail. While at the top, she paused to take pictures of her daughter and the sunset reflecting in the lake. “I feel that there is a sacred connection between this island and the heavens. There is such peace here. I

utahstories.com | 19

feel it every time I come,” she said.

Below Buffalo Point you can travel to White Rock Campground. Antelope Island is an International Dark Sky Park, and White Rock is ideal for viewing the night sky. Bring a telescope if you have one, or come to a Star Party, where astronomers bring huge telescopes and teach you about the constellations.

On the south side of the island, you will find the Fielding Garr Ranch. This is a scenic 12-mile jaunt from the Visitor Center, and the slower you drive, the more scenic it will be.

After calving season in late spring, there can be up to 700 head of bison.

The mothers and the calves will stay in groups, while the males tend to be more solitary. The mothers and calves often wander toward the southern ranch areas where they like to gather near one of the 40 freshwater springs before heading toward higher ground to continue grazing. This means they will frequently cross the road.

When asked why she loves coming to Antelope Island, 15-year-old Dentallia Betony answered, “The buffalo of course!” Remember to keep your distance and do not try to pet the fluffy cows!

The trees can contain camouflaged delights. Look closely and you may see

20 | utahstories.com

a porcupine, or you may be delighted by any number of other species. The flora and fauna are unique, as are the geological features. If you blink you may miss them. Retirees Lynne and Lynn Child enjoy coming to Antelope Island because of its rich ecoscape.

“We love the nature and the peace out here, and it is so close to home,” she says.

At Fielding Garr Ranch, the diversity continues. Built in 1848, and standing on its original foundation, the ranch house is the oldest Anglo building in Utah. You can walk through the farm buildings, see the tools that were used, and how difficult life was in the 19th Century.

Native American artifacts found at this site date back 6000 years. The Northwest Shoshone resided on the island until the 1840s.

Events and educational programs are held year-round at the ranch.

Manager Carl Aldrich explained the significance of the area. “This is a place where everyone connects. This is the story of the people of Antelope Island.”

To plan an island adventure at Antelope Island State Park, or to see a listing of events, please visit stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island/

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FUN GUIDE

Let It Snow, Snow, Snowmobile Good snowpack makes for good snowmobiling

B

eautiful backcountry scenery, wildlife spotting, untouched snow, clean air, and loads of fun are some of the reasons to head to the mountains with a snowmobile. It’s a great getaway for a day or a weekend with family or friends. Snowmobiling is fun for all ages. Parents can even rent two-seaters to ride with their younger kids. Utah’s snowmobiling season typically begins early December and ends early April.

Snowmobiling and other outdoor adventures have been used as therapy for wounded military veterans and those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD). Lyric Murphy, female snowmobile athlete, has taken veterans snowmobiling via the Wounded Warrior Project.

“I teach them how to ride snowmo-

22 | utahstories.com

biles in the mountains, letting them go where they want to go, see what they want to see. It gives them a different kind of peace when they leave. It’s therapy for me too,” she says.

Responsible snowmobilers stay on trails and in designated areas so as not to damage sensitive terrain. Utah offers many places for snowmobiling. “Monte Cristo Snowmobile Complex is my absolute favorite place to snowmobile.

One reason is that it is super versatile,” says Murphy.

Guides are available to take you through groomed trails, wildlife tours or off-trail adventures. Snowmobiling at Monte Cristo Snowmobile Complex, Hardware Ranch Snowmobile Complex, or many of the other snowmobile parks offer many levels of trails that

PHOTO BY AARON LEYLAND

By Alison Lafazan

Ski-Doo Summit carving in Deep-Powder

are easy to navigate on your own.

A great way to find out if snowmobiling is right for you or to try different equipment before making a large purchase is to simply try it out. You can rent snowmobile equipment and gear.

Most rental companies, such as locally owned and operated Club Powersports, offer their rental equipment for guided or unguided experiences.

Contact the rental companies or snowmobile complexes to get a complete list of gear to make for a safe and fun day. “A radio is a key piece of safety equipment,” says Murphy. “You can communicate with search and rescue if you get in a bind.” An avalanche beacon is needed and can also be rented. Avalanche training is good to have even if you don’t plan on going

off of the groomed trails. “People don’t realize that avalanches cross trails.”

The Utah Snowmobile Association wants people to enjoy the outdoors and then to make it back home.

“Snowmobile safety is your number one concern. No matter what your skill level is, or how much snowmobiling you have done, the only good day of snowmobiling is a safe one.”

The Association has a variety of safety information on their website. snowut.com/Safety.

Utah Avalanche Center offers avalanche education with online and in-person classes. Free safety and avalanche training in English and Spanish is offered on the Know Before You Go website at kbyg.org.

utahstories.com | 23

FUN GUIDE

Spooky Dating Ideas Dating can be less scary if it’s also spooky

F

ebruary is the month for love, but let’s be honest, dating can be exhausting and sometimes awkward. It can be difficult getting to know someone, especially when they’re wearing their “dating mask.” You can’t get to know someone by sitting in a movie theater, and sometimes going out to eat isn’t an option because of the cost, so what do we do? Perhaps go on a walk, talk, and get to know each other.

24 | utahstories.com

One sure way to peer through one’s dating façade is seeing how they react to fear. Will she jump into your arms at the first hint of a ghostly presence?

Will he bolt and leave you to fend for yourself in the event of a monstrous encounter?

These are important factors to consider when choosing a mate. It’s on the top of my list! Fear is the tell-all of any person’s mettle. This is the reason I’m

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supplying you with a few spooky and reasonably safe (at least considering the human element) “spooky dating ideas.”

Utah County has more than a few fun little spots for a romantic stroll where you have the chance of running into a gnome, elf or spook. The J. Rulon Gammon Vineyard Heritage Park, 70 S Holdaway Rd, Orem, is one of the first parks I ever took my sweetheart to for a midnight jaunt. The park is small and quaint. During the fall, it borders a large pumpkin patch on its west side.

It is said that if you walk over to this pumpkin patch area anytime of the year after midnight and whistle, something will whistle back at you.

There have also been stories of people encountering thin black and crooked humanoids in the coniferous trees near the path that goes past the west side of the park. Some time ago I interviewed a couple who said that one night in 2012, around 11pm, they saw “a headless bag lady,” (their words) admiring her head as it sat in her lap.

She was sitting under the southwest pavilion. I consider this to be a safe neighborhood for a walk and have taken many after midnight strolls in this area.

Provo’s Grandview Park, 1460 N 1050 W, is one of my favorite parks to visit after midnight. It borders “ The Provo Vortex,” an area from where I’ve been collecting supernatural stories for more than fifteen years. Grandview Park sits next to an old haunted elementary school which is now the Grandview Technology Center.

It’s rumored that the ghost of a pervy custodian haunts the girls’ restroom here and if you look into the halls at

26 | utahstories.com

night you can sometimes see strange things lurking about the halls. If you’re lucky, you might also run into the gnomes that are said to frolic on the playground equipment here. I encourage everyone to visit this park at night.

The later the better. Make a special trip to this park during December and pay special attention to the coniferous trees on the far west side of the park.

That’s all I’m gonna say.

At Sugarhouse Park, 1330 2100 S, Salt Lake City, I have collected stories and heard rumors of people coming face to face with two-foot-tall gnomes near Parley’s Creek. So, in June of 2019, my sweetheart Tara and I decided to go for a little walk around the area. We visited the park at about three o’clock in the afternoon. We were next to the creek when we saw and heard some rustling in the bushes no more than twelve feet away from us. I cannot say for certain what Tara and I saw, but it was two feet tall, gray in color and bipedal. It began playing peek-a-boo with us from behind a tree.

I whipped out my phone and started taking photos, but it disappeared when we approached the area.

We rushed home and started looking at the photos on my phone and were able to get a photo of the “whatever-it-was” peering from behind a tree. This is a rare occurrence of the researcher being in the right place at the right time. I want to make it clear I have no idea what we saw, but we did see something out of the ordinary and in broad daylight. Combine that with the fact that there are stories of gnomes in this area, and you can’t help but say hmmm …

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FUN GUIDE

JAM Cheering on Local Musicians

By M. Shane Richins

I

28 | utahstories.com

Ben Weiss, David Burchfield, Matt Conlin, Megan Nay, Melissa Chilinski of Pixie and the Partygrass Boys

family and friends. Before the pandemic began, a weekly jam started up at Gracie’s bar, hosted by Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, a band that has become a local favorite. They created an environment where the line between the performers and the spectators fades away.

Public entertainment went away during the height of the pandemic, but when music came back, it came back big. Pixie and the Partygrass Boys found themselves too busy touring to continue supporting what they

PHOTOS BY BRADEN LATIMER

n the 1980s, Americans tuned-in their TVs to watch a show about a bar where “everybody knows your name.”

Cheers was a top-running show for a long time because the world could appreciate the feeling of having a place where you could really be accepted as yourself. Just as important, the characters accepted each other even after they had one toooooo many beers.

Oh how times have changed. Just a cursory glance across the current landscape and you see political unrest, social unrest, a pandemic, and economic turmoil. For the average Joe it can mean incredible stress at work due to staffing shortages and supply chain problems.

Social media algorithms prefer emotional distress because that is what gets interactions. It seems the whole world wants to cancel anyone who doesn’t feel just the same as they do. We are overworked professionally and in a permanent state of social and political fight or flight. If there was ever a time we needed a barstool of acceptance, it is now. As luck would have it, there may even be an open one in downtown Salt Lake.

An environment has emerged that is not unlike sitting around a campfire, picking at a guitar, and singing with

had created, so a loose coalition of musicians associated with the original band came together to keep up this front against the harshness in the world. They call it a Jam because any musician with an instrument can join in with the band, but it’s more like a hybrid between a jam and an open mic, with a band to back up whoever wants to come on stage. It is hosted by the David Burchfield Quintet, which consists of Megan Nay on fiddle, Melissa Chilinski on banjo, Matt Conlin on the bass, and a fifth rotating mandolin,

often filled by Ben Weiss from Pixie and the Partygrass Boys.

Each member is a great musician in their own right, but what really makes them stand out as a band is the supportive and upbeat environment they create. The glue that seems to bind the group together is that either none of them have any problems in their lives and they are terminally happy, or they just know how to be present in the moment and exude positivity.

“It feels really special to carry on the tradition started by our friends

utahstories.com | 29

Ben Weiss on the Mandolin

Pixie and the Partygrass Boys. We love hosting the jam as a weekly gathering point for musicians and music lovers of all kinds. It’s called a ‘bluegrass jam’ because that’s our roots, but we play all kinds of music,” says band leader David Burchfield.

Some of those that get up and play with the band are seasoned veterans, while others just barely learned a tune on their ukulele on YouTube, so the experience is unique from week to week and even from song to song. What is really inviting is how the audience will sing along and celebrate even those

30 | utahstories.com

who are just learning to overcome their stage fright.

The David Burchfield quintet has fostered an environment where there are always enough seats in a full bar because you can feel good sharing a table with strangers as if this were your regular haunt and they were longtime friends.

Whether you bring an instrument, or you come for the good food and well-crafted drinks, what you will really appreciate is the welcome sense of community you will find every Tuesday night at the Jam.

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OGDEN

Marshall White

Ogden’s Marshall White Center Residents want 53-year-old neighborhood site to sparkle anew

By Cathy McKitrick 32 | utahstories.com

O

GDEN – At the height — and heat — of the nation’s civil rights movement during the 1960s, Ogden Police Sergeant Marshall White succumbed to gunshot wounds incurred while trying to talk a 17-year-old out of firing his rifle during a neighborhood break-in.

White, a World War II veteran, father of seven and mentor to many, became Utah’s first black police officer to die in the line of duty. The tragic event occurred in October 1963.

To honor him, a new community recreation center at 222 28th Street was dedicated in his name in 1968.

For decades, it served as a hub for low-income families and senior citizens to gather, exercise and socialize.

To this day it continues to host events, classes and activities. But the center has also struggled due to years of budget cuts and deferred maintenance. By 2018, the facility’s well-used swimming pool had to shut down due to lack of repair.

Even so, current Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell bristles at the notion that the Center has languished under his watch. “We put a $400,000 roof on it, a new futsal course, and there’s a brand new Jazz basketball court out there,” Caldwell said in a recent interview. He noted that in the last budget cycle “we allocated $5 million for improvements and renovation, and put a Marshall White advisory committee together

because we didn’t want to throw darts in the dark.”

But community advocate Taylor Knuth-Bishop believes the situation is more dire than Caldwell wants to acknowledge, pointing to the lapse of four years without any plan to reopen the Center’s pool. “It has since been condemned,” Knuth-Bishop said by phone, dashing any hope that the pool might reopen in the existing building.

“That’s the frustration.”

The losses continued, Knuth-Bishop added.

When Covid-19 hit in 2020, the Center’s weight room shut down amid concerns about surface transmission of the virus. Since then, Knuth-Bishop said the room’s floor buckled and the weight equipment was sold.

That facility kept my family together in some of the hardest times of my childhood.

That’s why I think the Marshall White Center is so important

Growing up without Dad Ron White, the sixth of Marshall White’s seven children, was six years old when his father died. “I really feel I didn’t get to spend enough time with him. I miss not growing up with him,” White said. But as a teen, the center bearing his dad’s name felt like a second home. “I loved playing basketball and related to my friends through basketball,” White said. “You could always go down there and get a good game going, especially on the weekends.”

Over the decades many working parents tapped it as a resource for their children to spend time until mom or dad got home from work. “It gives them peace of mind – and a little extra

utahstories.com | 33

Will the busted pool at Ogdens Marshall White Community Center be fixed?

money in the pocket,” White said. As a member of the city’s MWC Advisory Committee, White hopes to honor his father’s sacrifice and courage. “He was a hero to me.”

Knuth-Bishop said his heart aches for kids who might not get those communal experiences. Growing up in Clearfield, he remembers how he and his brothers swam at the city’s public recreation center while his mom worked out on the fitness track.

“That facility kept my family together in some of the hardest times of my childhood. That’s why I think the Marshall White Center is so important,” Knuth-Bishop said. “It could be transformative for everybody in our community.”

Be it resolved During the January 11th Ogden City Council meeting, members unanimously approved a joint non-binding resolution stating their intent to make MWC improvements a top priority and to keep the facility in its current location. But whether the renovated or replacement facility includes a new pool remains to be seen.

The administration also pledged

34 | utahstories.com

to give monthly updates to the City Council, and the resolution projected April 2024 as the goal to launch construction. In the meantime, several funding and design questions need to be addressed, and the advisory committee plans to host a series of open houses to keep the public informed.

Marshall White Center supporters welcomed the resolution with a dose of skepticism.

Betty Sawyer, president of the Ogden NAACP, said they’d be holding the mayor and city council accountable for what happens moving forward. “While I’m encouraged, I’m still looking for you to show me where your commitment is when it comes to equity, inclusion, diversity and making sure that the health and wellness of Ogden is a priority,” Sawyer said. Ogden resident David Timmerman pushed to shorten the timeline by six months, shifting the construction date to late 2023.

Council Chair Ben Nadolski said the resolution serves as a start toward rebuilding trust between city officials and Center supporters: “We’ve taken a step in the right direction … and we need to continue to take these steps together.”

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FOOD Salt Lake City's Benihana

Playing With Your Food Delicious Destinations for Food & Fun

By Ted Scheffler

M

any people — including me — seem to be so serious about food these days. Instagram and other social media platforms have created venues for the posting of perfect food pix. But is the food we really eat all that perfect looking all of the time? And so what if it’s not? It’s worth remembering that while not all food is of art museum

36 | utahstories.com

quality, it’s there to provide sustenance, nutrition and yes, enjoyment.

So let’s try to really enjoy our food and maybe not take it quite so seriously.

Here are some dining destinations that specialize in merging fun with food.

Yes, it’s okay to play with your food.

If you are looking for food, fun, and games, the new Flanker Kitchen +

Sporting Club at The Gateway is the perfect place. This adult (21 & over) fun zone spans some 17,500-square feet.

It’s an entertainment complex that features The Sporting Club for gameday viewing parties and nighttime socializing, private karaoke and sports simulator suites, and the speakeasy-style Parlor cocktail lounge complete with retro bowling lanes and throwback music.

Late into the night, DJ’s spin tunes for guests and a high energy party builds to a crescendo as the clock approaches midnight and beyond.

Along with all the fun and games at Flanker, guests are treated to cuisine that is elevated far above Multigrain Bowl at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club standard bar/ club fare, with menu items that range from Taverna Tots and House-Smoked Chicken Wings charred on your personal tabletop grill, to Lobster Fritters, Truffled Beef Carpaccio, and Spicy Tuna Bites. There is also a bustling bar scene at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club, and if you’re looking for a quiet corner to converse in, I suggest heading over to The Parlor, an old school-type bar with leather banquettes tucked away in the rear of the sprawling Flanker space. Guests at The Parlor can shoot pool, bowl, and play classic games, or just hunker down and enjoy a craft cocktail.

Looking to put a little magic into your life? I suggest an evening at Mystique Theater in West Jordan’s

Gardner Village. At Mystique, guests can enjoy world-class magic artistry from performers such as Matt Donnelly, Larry Wilson, Alex Ramon, George Tovar and others, along with a sit-down gourmet dinner. Mystique Dining offers two separate and unique venues: Mystique’s Grand Dining Chamber and The Prestige Parlour of Magic. At the former, guests indulge in a gourmet dinner prior to the evening’s audience-participation magic show. Menu selections include Orange and Wild Boar Sugo with Pappardelle; Pan-Seared King Salmon with forbidden black rice; Wagyu Hanger Steak

with pommes frites; Zaatar-Rubbed Bone-In Pork Loin with farro; Blackened Chilean Sea Bass with quinoa tabbouleh; Prime Rib; and much more. Mystique also can accommodate dietary restrictions such as lactose intolerance, gluten-free, allergies, etc.

Another way to have fun with your food is to laugh the night away at a Wiseguys comedy club in downtown SLC, Ogden, or Jordan Landing. The comedy lineup at Wiseguys runs the gamut from local open mic nights and journeymen comedians to world-

utahstories.com | 37

The Spicy Tuna Bites at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club, Salt Lake City

class names like JB Smoove, Jimmy Pardo, Marc Maron, Margaret Cho, Jeff Ross, Dave Attell and my favorite, Maria Bamford. The food and drink at Wiseguys is not to be overlooked, and I especially love the Black & Blue Burger with Cajun spices and blue cheese crumbles, as well as the yummy Bavarian Pretzels with beer cheese.

Beverages range from bottled and high-point beers to cocktails, specialty shots like the White Gummy Bear, and even wine by the glass.

Japanese-style Teppanyaki restaurants can be loads of fun, with good food to boot. At restaurants like Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse in Layton, Ogden’s Kobe Teppanyaki, and at Salt Lake City’s Benihana, you’ll be entertained while you eat. Chefs with razor sharp knives slice and dice right before your eyes while you are seated at a communal hibachi grill. Whether sizzling flying shrimp on the hot grill, tossing slivered onions and catching

38 | utahstories.com

them on a spatula, or preparing sushi tableside, there is delicious food and a show to be enjoyed at your favorite Teppanyaki restaurant.

Dinner and a show, anyone? Desert Star Dinner Theater in Murray has just kicked off its 2022 season with The Phantom of the Opera, running through February 26. At Desert Star Theater you’ll enjoy performances of favorite Broadway and off-Broadway shows, along with good grub and a fun, friendly staff. The specialty here is pizza, including Chicken Alfredo, Hawaiian, Smoked BBQ Chicken, and buildyour-own pizzas, plus salads, nachos, cheesy garlic bread, and desserts like Chocolate Lava Cake, ice cream floats and sundaes, oven-fresh streusel, flan, and more. Upcoming shows include Beverly Hillbillies 90210, Hunk-Cules I’m Too Sexy for My Toga, Legally Brunette, and Calamity Jane. So get out there and have some fun with your food!

PETS

Molesley Sirius—a borderdoodle, and Mildred McGonagall —a goldendoodle.

Designer Dogs P

uppy sales skyrocketed during COVID shutdowns because people who found themselves stuck at home turned to canine companionship. Designer dogs were at the forefront of the adoption frenzy, despite high prices and long wait lists.

Designer dogs are bred from two registered pure dog breeds to optimize the best characteristics of each parent.

Everything from Cockapoos (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle), Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever and Poodle), to a Puggle (Beagle and Pug), and more are available. Many breeders use poodles because of their temperaments and intelligence, not to mention they are mostly hypoallergenic. People who

40 | utahstories.com

are allergic to dog hair but have always wanted a Golden Retriever can fulfill their dreams with a retriever bred to a non-shedding poodle.

Angela Bennion breeds Goldendoodles. She fell in love with her brother’s Goldendoodle several years ago when they first became popular. Angela and her husband had always had dogs, but there was something special about the Goldendoodle that inspired her to start breeding them.

Prices charged for these specialty dogs have increased along with their popularity. That led to a lot of unethical breeders who keep their females constantly pregnant and living in poor conditions. One of the hallmarks of

PHOTO BY MIKE JONES

By Connie Lewis

Angela’s business is her ethical treatment of her dogs.

“I really make sure my girls are healthy and happy,” says Angela. On the advice of her veterinarian, she waits until her females are between 18 months to two years old for their first breeding, and will only breed each one a total of four times. “When all is said and done, they’re part of our family,” she added.

Besides being adorably hard to resist, Angela says that one of the advantages of a Goldendoodle is the lack of shedding. By breeding to a poodle, you get a dog with hair that needs to be cut rather than falling out, making them perfect for people who don’t want dog hair on their furniture, rugs, and clothing.

When shopping for a new puppy, no matter what breed, it is important to do a little homework.

The best possible situation is a visit to the breeder’s home.

Angela keeps her moms and puppies in the house, sometimes even sleeping next to them during the night, rather than relegating them to a backyard or storage room. It helps with the puppies’ socialization having them in the busy area of her house. They get used to sounds such as vacuums and kids, and are less easily spooked when they are adopted. Angela describes her dogs as smart and easy to train because they want to please.

She also does early training with the puppies. For example, she starts taking them outside to go to the bathroom at 3½ weeks. “It is a lot of work because I take them all out every time they wake up, but it is worth it.”

All of the work and socialization Angela puts into the puppies before they are adopted pays off for new owners who have a much easier time transitioning to a new puppy in the home.

Angela is very selective about who she allows to purchase her puppies.

She wants to make sure the new owners will love her dogs as much as she

does. The puppy contract requires that the owners can’t resell their puppy. If they get into a situation where they can’t keep the dog, Angela will take it back. “I want to make sure the people who buy my pups are committed and I don’t have to worry about the well-being of my puppies.”

The joy of owning a puppy can’t be defined monetarily. The years of joy and companionship they give us are priceless.

utahstories.com | 41

MARKETPLACE

There’s Beauty In Simplicity Salt Lake City’s HEXEH Studio

By Ted Scheffler s a fragrance fanatic, I love incense and have diffusers dispensing beautiful fragrances strewn throughout our house. My pillow mister helps me sleep contentedly at night, with scents of lavender and cedarwood. So naturally, I was drawn to learning all about Dimitri Allouch and his unique company, HEXEH Studio, which is all about fragrance.

HEXEH is a Salt Lake City-based studio fragrance and skincare company with the aim of providing a “simple, yet pleasing sensory experience through our lines of skincare, personal fragrances, and home scents. We believe there is beauty in simplicity.

Through this philosophy we encourage a minimalist skincare regimen, embracing our natural aesthetic, and carrying a fragrance that speaks to our individuality.”

According to Dimitri Allouch, HEXEH’s founder, “We are a fine fragrance company that aims to delight, impress, and surprise with scents that are not commonly found in the home fragrance space — and we often hear, ‘I love how they smell … I’ve never

42 | utahstories.com

Dimitri Allouch of HEXEH in The Gateway

smelled anything like these before!’

Complementary to the fragrances, our diffuser wood casings are equally special: handmade and charred using the traditional Japanese method of Shou Sugi Ban. This process requires hours and energy to preserve the integrity of the casing, but also exposes its unique patterns and natural beauty of the wood’s grain — a kind of metaphor to describe refining processes of life.”

But Allouch wasn’t always in the fragrance biz. “I received my professional training as a lawyer in France,” he says, “and worked in mediation for a time before I switched gears and joined a change management consulting firm in Luxembourg. Two years later I met my wife in Southeast Asia and moved to Singapore. It was there that the idea of HEXEH was formed.”

Allouch continues, “I come from a family of entrepreneurs and business owners, so it seemed like the right thing to do. I wanted to do my own

PHOTO BY DUNG HOANG

A

thing, create something that felt natural and came from within myself. Most of us have a desire to find meaning and purpose in what we do. I find that in my own life: experiences, inspirations, and building objects that improve our environments, aesthetic and moods.”

HEXEH products range from perfumes, skincare products and candles, to incense, diffusers, and fragrances designed to be used on linens, cars, closets, and dog beds using travel-friendly pumps with aromas like Fleur de Tabac, Hinoki, Amber & Plum, Bois de Santal, Oud N’1, and more.

The motivation to start HEXEH comes from two places, says Allouch.

“First, a love and fascination for smart, simple design, and second, an appreciation for fragrances. These two elements were grown out of my life in Paris and living near the perfume town of Grasse — its history, how fragrances are made, how ingredients are sourced, and how they make us feel and remember certain things. Because those influences are so intertwined with who I am (as all of our life experiences), those became the ingredients to the idea of HEXEH.” Nothing but top-notch, high-quality ingredients go into HEXEH candles, diffusers, incense, sprays and such. “All of our products are made with ingredients that are carefully sought, sourced and rigorously tested. Our skincare products are vitamin and botanical enriched, with no animal testing, and do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or formaldehyde. Our scented candles are made of 100% soy wax and clean-burning cotton wicks.”

The company is also committed to

environmental responsibility, saying “HEXEH is committed to our environmental responsibility of using packaging that is 100% recyclable, sustainable, and sourced as close to home as possible. We do our very best to minimize plastics where and when we can from production to product.” HEXEH production is also entirely powered by solar energy.

Looking to the future, Allouch says he’d “love to have a presence back in France, where it all began.” As for advice for other entrepreneurs considering launching their own businesses, he says, “Gain clarity about what you want to do and why you want to do it. Find those people who feel the same way as you do — those are your potential customers and people who see you doing something different and worthwhile, and they will appreciate that.”

HEXEH products can be found online at HEXEHStudio.com and in SLC at the HEXEH store located at The Gateway, as well as at Animalia, Lillie Bee Emporium, and Mineral and Matter.

utahstories.com | 43

COMMUNITY Ken Sanders of Ken Sanders Rare Books

Ken Sanders Books New Venue Rare books store will move to The Leonardo

A

s if battling to keep a small business alive during the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t hard enough, Salt Lake City bookseller Ken Sanders had to relocate his beloved antiquarian bookshop after development pressure forced him from the space he’s occupied for 24 years. He had been expecting a notice to vacate for quite a while.

Now he’s happy to say the bookstore finally found a home at The Leonardo.

44 | utahstories.com

“At age 70, most folks think I am absolutely crazy to do this,” says Sanders.

He sees this opportunity to move his shop to The Leonardo as a chance to reinvent himself one last time. “The folks at the Leo have been more than welcoming and I think there is a potential for us to accomplish a lot artistically and culturally together,” he says.

When I asked Sanders how he’ll maintain the character of his

PHOTO BY DUNG HOANG

By Amiee Maxwell

main floor and a two-hundred-seat auditorium upstairs. Plus, The Salt Cafe has a liquor license, so he can see some potential wine and poetry events in the future.

high-spirited bookshop inside a museum, he says, “I think our spaces at The Leo will give us a chance to class up our act and make better presentations and curations.”

He’s especially looking forward to launching their new 300-plus square foot children’s area on the main floor of The Leonardo. “This will be a paradise for children and I will host monthly live children’s readings when Covid permits us to.”

The old library reading room in the sub-basement is where the used and rare books will be housed. Sanders is certain that some amount of chaos will still reign. “Down in the catacombs, the spirit of Ken Sanders Rare Books will live on.“ One exciting aspect about moving to The Leonardo is the greater flexibility for holding events. There’s plenty of space for small intimate events on the

For those hoping to visit the bookshop’s 200 East location one more time before the building gets the wrecking ball, don’t worry. You have some time. The old shop will remain open for all of 2022 and plenty of new, used, and rare books are still available for sale there.

A small version of Ken Sanders Rare Books is currently open on the first floor of the museum and is being run

by The Leonardo. That shop will be expanding over the next three months with mostly new and used books. The used and rare book room located in the catacombs will take longer to build out, but Sanders is hoping it will be ready to open by the fall of 2022.

Sanders has been overwhelmed with the support he’s received from the community, including the Salt Lake City Council, who voted unanimously to allow the move into a city-owned building. He’s also grateful to the 3000 folks who contributed to the store’s GoFundMe campaign. It not only helped them weather the pandemic, but is also helping the transition to The Leonardo.

“I see that as a mandate from the people of SLC that they wish me to continue,” says Sanders. “Yes, there is a risk that I will fail at this. I have always been a risk-taker and I am choosing to embrace this one.”

The Leonardo is located at 209 E 500 S in Salt Lake City. Donations can be made to Ken Sanders Rare books through its GoFundMe campaign.

utahstories.com | 45

BARS & PUBS A BAR NAMED SUE

Full bar, food, pool tables, pingpong. 3928 S Highland Dr, SLC + 8136 S State St, Midvale

BEERHIVE PUB

Main Street just got a whole lot cooler! A big, gorgeous bar, hundreds of great beers and good company. 128 S Main St., SLC

BIG WILLIES

Good pub food, sports bar and pool tables. 1717 S Main St, SLC

BODEGA

Home of SLC’s best kept secret. 331 S Main Street

BOHEMIAN BREWERY

Czechs know: Amazing food. Amazing beer. 94 E 7200 S

CHAKRA LOUNGE

LEGENDS SPORTS GRILL

Perfect spot to watch the Jazz and enjoy a burger and a brew. 677 S 200 W

LUCKY 13

Excellent food and a friendly atmosphere. 135 W 1300 S

PIPER DOWN

SLC’s Most Amazing Rooftop Patio. 1492 S State St, SLC

POPLAR STREET PUB

Good food, great selection of local beers. 242 S 200 W

PROPER BREWING CO. Craft beer and a full bar. Food available next door at Proper Burger Co. 857 S Main St., SLC

RED ROCK BREWING CO.

Tapas, exceptional cocktails, DJ. 364 S State, SLC

Utah’s most awarded brew pub: taste why. 254 S 200 W + 1640 W Redstone Center Dr, Park City

COTTON BOTTOM INN

SQUATTER’S

DESERT EDGE PUB

THE BAYOU

FIDDLER’S ELBOW

TWIST

Classic aprés ski, famous garlic burgers. 2820 E 6200 S, Holladay Great food and atmosphere for a night out. Trolley Square Watch the Utes and drink a stein in Sugar House. 1063 E 2100 S

GRACIE’S

Service, drinks, food and ambience—all top notch. 326 S West Temple, SLC

Where great dining and beer was born in Salt Lake City. 147 W Broadway (300 S) A must see ‘Beervana’, 100s of beers. 645 S State St., SLC Renovated 19-century boiler room with a patio for clever small plates, pub classics & craft beer. 32 S Exchange Pl, SLC

UINTA BREWERY

GREEN PIG PUB

A small pub attached to Utah’s biggest brewery. 1722 Fremont Dr. (2375 W)

HOG WALLOW

Superb food and beer. 2110 Highland Dr, SLC + 250 Main Street Park City

Great place to watch the game and have a pint. 31 E 400 S, SLC Offering spirits & bar food, live music. 3200 E Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Cottonwood Heights

KEYS ON MAIN

WASATCH BREW PUB WHISKEY STREET

High West and a great vibe classic feel. 323 South Main St.

Live dueling piano bar in the heart of downtown. 242 S Main

Celebrating America’s Craft Breweries with over 300 Brands 128 South Main Street • Salt Lake City Open every day from Noon to 1 am

February Activities January Through April

February 14

Downtown Farmers Market—Winter. Continuing on Saturdays through April 23rd, the market is held at The Gateway, 10 N Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City. The market includes locally grown and produced produce, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, sauces, condiments, chocolate, and more. Hours are from 10am to 2pm.

Big Band Valentine’s Dance. Presented by Wasatch Show Band at Northampton House in American Fork, 198 W 300 N. The dance will run from 7:30pm to 9:30pm and will include live music, professional dance instruction and a sweet table. VIP tickets are available to include a 3 course dinner. Find more information and registration at visitsaltlake.com/event/big-bandvalentines-dance-2022/35075/

February Ice Skating at the Gallivan Center. Ice skating is open nightly at the Gallivan Center, 239 S Main Street, Salt Lake City. This outdoor venue offers hockey and figure skates for rent with the admission fee. Sunday times at 12pm to 7pm, Monday through Thursday at 4pm to 9pm and Friday through Saturday 12pm to 12am. For more information call (801) 535-6117.

February 19 Moab’s Red Hot Ultra. This is an endurance race event sponsored by Mad Moose with a 33K and 55K. The 55K race begins at 8am and the 33K at 8:30am. The start and finish of the races will be at Gemini Bridges. Pre Register at madmooseevents.com/moab-red-hot

February 11

February 20

Riverton’s Just You & I: Daddy-Daughter Date Night.

This annual event is a community favorite held at the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center Auditorium, 12830 S Redwood Road, from 6pm to 8pm. Price is $30 per dad and daughter with $15 for each additional daughter.

The theme for the night is Teddy Bear Picnic. Register at rivertonutah.gov/recreation/events/just-you-and-i.php

Indie Ogden’s Bizarre. This monthly event is held from 12 to 5pm at the Marshall White Center, 222 28th Street in Ogden. Gather to support local makers, shakers, crafters, upcyclers, musicians and the art community. Free to the public.

WINTER MARKET at THE GATEWAY North End of The Gateway Near the Fountain Produce, grass-fed meats, eggs, honey, baked goods, & more.

SATURDAYS NOVEMBER 13 - APRIL 23

10 AM - 2PM WWW.SLCFARMERSMARKET.ORG

CLOSED DECEMBER 25 & JANUARY 1