City Weekly June 25, 2026

CITY WEEKLY salt lake FREE

Making History

New, free Museum of Utah opens this weekend on Capitol Hill.

BY ARICA ROBERTS

S AP

BOX

“Playing Hooky,” June 11 Opinion

Where are the parents of Matt Pacenza’s privileged children who allowed them to attend school part-time—and who are proud of it? Why is Pacenza ranting now, after he and his children will no longer suffer the consequences he so piously advocates for?

The direct fault for low school attendance is the parents. It is not educators who fail to impose consequences. It is not progressive ideologues sitting in comfy offices devising solutions that are out of touch with school resources. School

attendance works in the Deep South, not because the region is considered red state and conservative, but because parents demand and support it.

Absenteeism in Utah is not limited to schools. The lack of consistent school attendance directly translates into a lack of consistent attendance in employment—with disastrous results for productivity and profit.

When I moved here from New York in 2013, in search of a senior management position, every interviewer asked, “Do you have reliable transportation?” I was insulted at first, because we have “work ethic” back East.

But I soon realized that lack of it is the norm in Utah. Employers accept it because employees merely do what they see everyone else doing.

Utah, for all its delusions of greatness, will never amount to anything until personal responsibility and commitment are core values. Character starts in the home.

KENNER SIEBUS

Murray

“Crunching the Numbers,”

June 11 Cover

The sheer regressive nature of this proposed budget is enough to question the “progressive” credentials of the Salt Lake Council and Mayor.

Such an act cannot be called sustainable nor progressive, but it sure can be called despicable!

ERIC KRAAN Via Facebook

“Red

Paint … coming to SLC’s bus-only lanes …”

June 10 Online

I was disappointed that the landscaping wasn’t better when they redid 200 South. Most other cities have added bike lanes and bus lanes and made the streets look much more visually appealing in the process.

JOHN.SCHAEFER1 Via Instagram

Very excited! Transit in SLC is truly leveling up. ANDREWKATSO Via Instagram

Slather on that lipstick! UTA for life!

JORDAN.SWAIN.1 Via Instagram

If the lane design doesn’t work, they should rethink it. It’s confusing when you want to turn right from the left lane. It’s doubly confusing if you are looking for parking or an address. Heaven forbid a driver is new to the area trying to navigate these unconventional traffic laws. Redesign it so it works for everyone.

CREATE_A_REBELLION Via Instagram

What do we have to put on the road to stop people from changing lanes in the middle of an intersection? ENHOWELL91 Via Instagram

Folks having trouble with the giant BUS LANE painted on the street every few hundred feet.

SALTLAKEMUSICSEEN Via Instagram

Write to comments@cityweekly.net or on our social media.

THE WATER COOLER

If you were guaranteed the answer to one question about your life, the universe, or the future, what would you ask?

Paula Saltas

When will I weigh what my drivers license says I weigh?

Zach Abend

I’d want to know if the Mets will ever win another World Series in my lifetime.

Mike Ptaschinski

Am I ever going to be drafted and play center field for the Yankees?

Gavin Dahl

The Terminator movies are all going to come true, aren’t they?

Bryan Bale

I think I’d ask a question that’s on the minds of a lot of astrophysicists concerning the nature of the universe: What’s the truth behind the observed phenomena which people call “dark matter” and “dark energy”?

Benjamin Wood

Will there still be a Great Salt Lake in 10 years? Asking on behalf of roughly 1.3 million friends along the Wasatch Front.

Carolyn Campbell

When will the world stop being so nuts?

OPINION

BY CHRISTOPHER SMART

Ballerina Farms, Apocalypse Now!

She gave up the glitz, glamour and bright lights to move to the country, raise kids on a Utah farm and form a big corporation to make big bucks. Hannah Neeleman, a Julliard-trained ballerina, is a so-called “tradwife” influencer, who, according to The New York Times, has 23 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

But they aren’t all fans, especially in little Midway, where Neeleman just opened a Ballerina Farms retail store that has clogged the Heber Valley village with a “traffic apocalypse.” Times reporter Vivian Yee put it this way: “Cars jammed the streets. Neighbors fortified the block against interlopers with traffic cones and signs warning, ‘Resident Parking Only.’”

No doubt, Ballerina Farms merch does appeal to a segment of women who like the image of a tradwife, a glamorous stay-at-home mom—the trademark of Neeleman’s store. “Droves of young women in long dresses and cowboy boots began lining up for soft serve [ice cream],” Yee wrote, “made with Ballerina Farm’s signature vanillaflavored protein powder and strawberry whey lemonade.” If that’s down on the farm, then maybe they should add a Brazilian Wax salon. Not exactly traditional farm life, but why focus on reality when there’s fame and money to be made?

Reflecting on a Pool of Algae

Well, Wilson, let’s pretend for a moment that the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall isn’t symbolic of Donald Trump’s administration. As you’ll recall, the self-proclaimed greatest president ever wanted a nice “American Flag Blue” emanating from the pool.

So, in a no-bid, $14 million contract, Trump hired some dudes to drain it and paint it. Voila! A pool with peeling paint clogged by “St. Patrick’s Day Green” algae.

This comes, of course, as the mighty U.S.—with its tail between its legs—slinks toward an off-ramp from our illegal war on Iran. Between Trump’s crazy off-again, onagain tariffs and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, our economy, along with the rest of the globe, is on the skids.

Since we’ve screwed everything up so well, why not insult our allies for being stupid and inept? And for kicks, start a pissing contest—make that an international dustup—with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by insisting that she begged Trump to take a picture with her.

Things are going great, except that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won’t stop bombing Lebanon. So any deal with Iran is off and the Strait of Hormuz— well, who knows.

It must be time to declare victory. Yeah, that’s it. It’s a sensational military victory.

Space Aliens Could be Interstellar AI Programs

Things are so weird and screwed up these days that folks are talking about UFOs, just for some relief from the World of Trump and all its B.S.

For example, Trump said an agreement with Iran had been reached 41 times before there was actually something there, and whatever is there now is only a memorandum of understanding to keep talking. The war has cost us $132 billion so far. Figure in 13 dead Americans and more than 140 wounded, and that isn’t to mention the upheaval in the global economy.

The U.S. has never looked weaker. Nonetheless, Trump has declared victory. So while we’re imagining things, we might as well talk about our friends from distant galaxies who don’t want to be seen.

If extraterrestrial aliens turn out to be “real,” they might be AI computer programs; so says Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb. “Biological brains are unlikely to survive the long journey and the bombardment by energetic cosmic rays in interstellar space,” he asserted. “Instead, they are likely to be equipped with artificial intelligence.”

AI astronauts could replicate themselves with 3D printers using the raw materials on a planet. Since AI beings could live for a very long time, traveling between galaxies would not be a problem. So much for little, green men.

Postscript—Well, Wilson, we’re about to turn 250 years old and things are kinda messed up. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, spoke nonstop on the Senate floor for over 22 hours in April. His message: “We’re in the most perilous moment, the biggest threat to our republic since the Civil War. President Trump is shredding our Constitution.”

A lot of Americans are concentrating more on their pocketbooks than their rights as the transfer of wealth keeps going the wrong direction—as it has since 1980. Tech moguls are getting richer and richer. Elon Musk just became the first trillionaire—a stack of $100 bills would have to be piled 679 miles high to equal a trillion.

Meanwhile, Trump and the GOP-dominated Congress have passed $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid and $230 billion in cuts to SNAP (food assistance) over the next 10 years, impacting the health and hunger of tens of millions of Americans. The Trump administration is set to request $1.5 trillion in defense spending for 2027. The national debt stands at $39 trillion, up $2.64 trillion from a year ago, despite the DOGE hatchet job.

It makes the $600 million for Trump’s ballroom look like chump change. Happy Birthday, America. CW Christopher Smart writes the weekly Smart Bomb column, available online at cityweekly.net

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele

HIT: Brick by Brick

You either love LEGOs or hate them, particularly if they’re left around the house and you step on them. But now coming to Utah is a new way to think about the childhood toys. It’s a $200,000 scandal over ownership of a LEGO Star Wars collection—and it’s ending up in American Fork. The Bricks & Minifigs story broke on Business Wire but is mostly playing out on YouTube. Basically, an Oregon franchise store shut down and a YouTuber nicknamed Reckless Ben made a “documentary” trying to find the consigned LEGOs. He ends up in American Fork, where the police get involved, and there are allegations of excessive force, etc. Fun stuff since Bricks & Minifigs corporate has now filed a RICO lawsuit. If you want to know more, you’ll have to watch YouTube videos and talk to lawyers.

MISS: Healthy Skepticism

RFK Jr., who the president fondly refers to as “Bobby,” has been deployed ahead of the midterms. Relax, he won’t be coming to Utah, because we are far from a battleground state. Apparently, Kennedy is a draw because, as a GOP strategist said, he’s “married to a Hollywood star … wrestles snakes and does chin-ups as hobbies.” Not surprisingly, most Republicans like the MAHA movement. Of course, that’s without the vaccine skepticism. And that is why he should not come to Utah, where measles is rampant. A recent Wired story recounted how the state switched from trying to contain measles to no longer having control over it. Since the outbreak began, Utah has had 700 cases, the second highest in the nation. And yes, measles can be deadly. But if you’re a MAHA believer, you’ll go for Vitamin A or cod liver oil instead of a vaccine.

MISS: Breathing Easy

You may have heard that Rod Stewart was in town—that is, if you’re old enough to remember who Rod Stewart is. The 81-year-old singer and songwriter has been touring the country, despite an upper respiratory infection. He was obliged to cancel a California gig recently, but was in West Valley when he had to stop and grab an oxygen tank to breathe and carry on. Sure, the altitude at 4,300 feet didn’t help, but how about those fires? Of 334 fires this year, 254 are reportedly human-caused. The Iron Fire near Eureka has burned more than 13,000 acres and caused evacuations. While these are mostly accidents, they speak to negligence, if not ignorance. Several people have been arrested for intentionally starting fires for whatever reason. Utahns are already dealing with dust from the drying Great Salt Lake and none of this bodes well for people with breathing issues. CW

Branching Out

The west side’s Poplar Grove neighborhood boasts Salt Lake City’s oldest library building, the Chapman Branch at 577 S. 900 West. Since its opening in 1918, following a donation from Andrew Carnegie, the Classical Revival-style building has been in continuous operation ever since.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the Carnegie Foundation has distributed $10,000 donations to surviving Carnegie library systems nationwide. The Chapman Branch Library used this recent donation to purchase an enclosed, private study pod, a first for the city’s library system.

“One of the things we noticed after COVID, when we were closed during that period of time, was that people really missed our collections and spaces to be—and study spaces in particular,” explained Chapman branch manager Liesl Jacobson.

Poplar Grove is home to many immigrant households from Spanishspeaking countries, as well as Vietnam. To be more inclusive of the various languages in the neighborhood, the Carnegie funds will also be allocated for new outdoor welcome banners in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Jacobson is also hopeful that the multilingual banners will help correct a common misconception that the historic building is a house of worship.

“Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t come in and say, ‘Oh, you’re a library? I thought this was a church,’” she said.

After Andrew Carnegie became one of the world’s richest men as a railroad and steel magnate, his philanthropic foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, donated $56 million to build 2,509 public libraries. The effort was personal, as Carnegie had benefited from borrowing books as a child in Allegheny, Pennsylvania after his formal education ended at 12-years-old.

Chapman’s Carnegie legacy is not only evident in the historic building on 900 West, but also the way philanthropic funding has allowed it to adapt to contemporary community needs. Over the past few decades, the library’s services have expanded beyond traditional book and media lending to include essential modern resources like free Wi-Fi access, printing, scanning, faxing and device charging stations.

While a small meeting room is available for public use, the new addition of an enclosed study pod provides a private workspace to anyone with a library card.

Located on Chapman’s top level, the study pod includes outlets for charging devices and can be booked in advance. Visit the Chapman Branch Library to take advantage of the new updates, along with many other offers such as a seed library, a plant propagation swap, and more.

“I’m just so impressed by the dedication that the Poplar Grove community shows to the community and speaking up for itself and wanting to have good things for this area of the city,” Jacobson said. “It makes me proud to work here.” CW

If you’ve meandered outside of the bars on Main Street on any given night, then chances are good that you’ve run into RJ Walker’s table decked out with a typewriter, stationary and lots of fun stickers. He will write you a poem on the spot that is sure to be a fun souvenir for a memorable evening. He is known to see people very clearly, though, so be prepared to be read like a book.

IG: @dollarcompliments

These lists are derived from the 2025 Best of Utah ballot.

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Big Shiny Robot

Gateopening

Invite people into fandoms through positivity and the opposite of “gatekeeping.”

BY BRYAN YOUNG comments@cityweekly.net

I’ve given myself a number of summer challenges this year: reading, movies, writing, etc. They’re all going swimmingly. But I have another one I want to add and I’m inviting you all to join me.

This summer, I’ve decided to share things that bring me joy with those around me. There’s a caveat to that challenge, though: When I share this love, I’m not allowed to pass on any negativity or bad vibes while I’m doing it. I’m challenging you to do the same.

People often come to me when preparing to experience Star Wars for the first time and tell me that another friend would have showed it to them, but they had a laundry list of movies in the franchise they didn’t want to watch, warnings and disclaimers about the order to watch it in and opinions about which ones were allegedly bad or good. Then, if they did start watching one of the films with that other person, they’d loudly complain through half of it.

Not a great viewing experience and probably not a good way to spread joy, right? This is the hard part.

Want to share your love of Star Trek with someone? Let them pick the gateway. Maybe that’s Enterprise. Or Prodigy. Or Voyager. Or even Starfleet Academy. Whatever it is, if it’s not your favorite, don’t give them any indication of such.

First, experience it through the eyes

and wonder of a first-timer. Second, offer—but don’t demand—to connect the dots of lore and Easter eggs for them so they might appreciate what they’re seeing on a deeper level. But don’t you dare mention why you may not like certain things. Leave that nonsense at the door. Let them come to whatever conclusions they want to after they have a chance to make up their own minds. If it doesn’t match your opinion, that’s fine! You’ve still brought a new fan to something you love. They don’t have to love it the same way you do. In fact, no two fans do, so don’t try to force them to.

This happens all the time in BattleTech, a tabletop and video game universe I write novels in. New fans will come looking for fiction because they played MechWarrior video games, or were introduced to the game at their local game store. There’s a tendency from fans to shout, “You must start at the beginning!” like it’s a commandment handed down on stone tablets from on high.

For a new fan, that sounds really intimidating in a universe that’s been publish-

ing novels for 40 years, including more than 150 books and twice that many short stories, novellas, sourcebooks and more. You’ve got to ask folks where their interests lie and what their sensibilities are, then direct them to an on-ramp they’ll like. It might be the beginning. It might be something more modern. What doesn’t matter is your feeling on the matter—other than your desire to share your joy.

Reading multi-Hugo and Nebula awardwinning science fiction writer Samuel Delany’s book About Writing recently, I was struck by his words about how we sometimes look at things in the wrong spirit and need to engage instead from the perspective of the artist. Too often, we approach things in a way that sees us fighting against art, rather than with an eye for understanding. We cast ourselves as adversarial critics who look for perceived flaws, but Delany seeks out critics that take a different view.

In his book, Delany says that he doesn’t want to see critics judge work “by the same ‘objective’ standards. I want to learn,

rather, what kind of education is necessary to form an aesthetic sensibility (or what kind of political savvy it requires…)” in order to appreciate and be moved by any given piece of work. It’s a much healthier outlook than treating any given piece of art as your adversary.

That would be my second summer challenge to you. Take those parts of your fandom you’ve rubbed up against and didn’t like, and find critics who have approached them like Delany suggested. See what kind of education might be necessary to form the sensibility or political savvy required to appreciate them. You might be surprised to find renewed love for them with new study. You might not, but it’s always worth a try—and you’ll learn something in the meantime.

By spreading joy without negativity and opening your mind to reevaluate things you’d previously discarded, I’d wager you’re going to find more positivity in at least one aspect of your life. And with the way things are going in the world, we could all use something like that. CW

theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT PICKS,

JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2026 Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

SLAC’s Summer Show: The Gaslight Zone

The world of 2026 America can seem incomprehensible, each event more baffling and terrifying than the one before it. So it might seem a bit surprising to look at those events through the lens of someone who was writing at his peak nearly 70 years ago. Yet, according to Cynthia Fleming—artistic director for Salt Lake Acting Company, as well as director of its satirical annual SLAC Summer Show—the legendary Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone, could be exactly the right way to look at these alarming times. “He was such a prophet; he just knew human nature so well,” Fleming said. “We are the same people. We still have the same fears and paranoias.”

Writers Olivia Custodio, Austin Archer and Penelope Caywood wrangle Serling’s worldview into The Gaslight Zone, a musical comedy combining plot elements from several classic episodes of the original Twilight Zone television series. Walking the fine line between exploring difficult political and societal issues and making them entertaining has always been part of the DNA of these shows, and Fleming and her cast seem to understand how to make it all work. “It has to start with the truth,” Fleming said. “What makes it work is where you hit that beautiful space where it’s something we all know, but have never said out loud, but all recognize it, and then die laughing.”

SLAC’s Summer Show: The Gaslight Zone runs June 24 – Aug. 16, with performances Wednesdays – Sundays, plus Tuesday evening, July 21. Tickets begin at $45, with cabaret table seating also available. For a full schedule, to purchase tickets and additional event information, go to saltlakeactingcompany.org. (Scott Renshaw)

Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre

For more than 30 years, Logan has been home to one of Utah’s most underappreciated theatrical treasures: the summer repertory season of Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. While the organization has expanded its mission to include education and other programming year-round, the centerpiece remains the six-week repertory calendar that has included classical opera, light opera, Broadway musicals and more.

For the 2026 season, the highlight is 1776 (pictured), the 1969 musical by Peter Stone that dramatized the behindthe-scenes debates and quarrels among the Founding Fathers, leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence; UFOMT founder Michael Ballam takes on the key role of John Adams, one that Ballam notes played a key role in his own decision to make musical theater his career. The season also features the beloved Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance, plus the one-act opera doublefeature of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury with the brand-new comic piece Scalia/ Ginsburg, about the improbable friendship between the two ideologically-opposite Supreme Court justices over their shared love of opera. Finally, real-life married couple Vanessa Ballam and Stefan Espinosa star in the bittersweet romantic dramedy The Last Five Years, following the arc of a relationship in reverse chronology. The summer season of Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre plays at the Utah Theatre and Eccles Theatre in Logan, continuing through July 11. Tickets are $20$75, with “Build Your Own Series” season ticket options available. For full festival schedule and to purchase tickets, visit utahfestival.org. (SR)

Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance: Encore

Derek Hough has certainly expanded his horizons in recent years, from acting to taking over as host of the syndicated series Extra. But dance remains at the center of the professional life of this Utah native who made his name nearly 20 years ago on Dancing With the Stars (along with his sister, Julianne), winning that show with various celebrity partners more than any other coach. He’s back out on tour with his Symphony of Dance: Encore tour—the title a nod to returning to the show that he was touring when his wife, Hayley Erbert, when she experienced a near-fatal cranial hematoma in 2023. “To be able to go out on the road and perform the show again, to rewrite the story, makes it even more special,” Hough said in an interview with WSVN-7 Miami.

The brand-new production brings fresh high-energy choreography, featuring the work of choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo (veterans of the Grammy Awards and working with Jennifer Lopez). “This is like a rock concert for dance,” Hough continued in the same interview. “High entertainment, fast pace, all different types of genres. It’s for the entire family. You have big band, you have rock and roll, you have Latin, you have ballroom, you have contemporary. I get the audience involved. We get them up on stage. We dance. It’s a lot of fun.”

Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance: Encore comes to the Eccles Theater (131 S. Main St.) for two performances, June 26-27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $67.50 - $145.50; visit saltlakecountyarts.org for tickets and additional event information. (SR)

Girl Powers

With the arrival of a new Supergirl, a brief look at the history of women-centered comicbook cinema.

BY MARYANN JOHANSON COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

Anew cinematic version of DC Comics’ character Supergirl is about to arrive. And with it, we’ve arguably come full circle from the beginning of female-centered comic-book movies, which got off to a slow start with 1984’s Supergirl. No shade to poor Helen Slater as the original titular heroine, but her superhero showcase isn’t very good—unintentionally campy, unfunnily slapsticky, and unable to capitalize on the success of Christopher Reeve’s Man of Steel, in whose wake she followed. But it did set the unfortunate precedent for the subgenre to come: Comic-book protagonists of the female persuasion would only ever get their own movies in the shadow of male caped crusaders. This was true even prior to our current cinematic superhero cycle. Red Sonja (1985)

zenegger’s Conan the Barbarian movies; indeed, Arnie is a supporting character here, his woodenness sadly matched to Brigitte Nielsen’s turn as the vengeful warrior. (The 2025 reboot of the same title is slightly better, but still suffers from a shamelessly appropriated Lord of the Rings vibe layered over a Medieval Times dinner-theater atmosphere.) Catwoman, in 2004, attempted—and failed—to ride the coattails of the Batman craze kicked off by Tim Burton’s blockbuster 1989 film and its sequels. Ditto 2005’s Elektra, a bomb that landed in the wake of Daredevil (which had bombed a year before, prompting one to wonder why anyone bothered with a sequel).

Sure, there were a few outliers that fully centered female protagonists. 1995’s Tank Girl and 1996’s Barb Wire launched from the indie comics that were starting to make a splash just as indie movies were that decade, and even, going back a bit, 1984’s Sheena and 1968’s Barbarella (based on a French comic series). But these films all cast their heroines—portrayed by, respectively, Lori Petty, Pamela Anderson, Tanya Roberts and Jane Fonda—more as fetish objects for presumed male audiences than as characters worthy of dignity; Catwoman and Elektra did the same with Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner. All were critical and box office failures, though some have acquired cult status since.

The pattern is more obvious in the last two decades of superhero films.

Since 2008’s Iron Man reignited mainstream interest in comic-book heroes, we’ve seen minor male characters in the Marvel universe like Ant-Man and Doctor Strange get their own films before a woman got to headline, in 2019’s Captain Marvel—and then only to face wild backlash from a subset of male fans who appeared not to appreciate that movie’s overtly progressive stance on women, refugees and other contentious topics of the moment.

Also notable? The Marvel Cinematic Universe has not only sidelined female characters and left their stories to fill in insignificant gaps in the larger epic, but it also has allowed women directors to tell only those stories in which women dominate: Anna Boden (with Ryan Fleck) for Captain Marvel, Cate Shortland with 2021’s Black Widow, Chloé Zhao for 2021’s Eternals (with an ensemble more gender-balanced than most Marvel films) and Nia DaCosta with 2023’s The Marvels

No woman has directed a Marvel movie with predominantly male protagonists, and Marvel’s plan through the early 2030s does not feature any female-centered films, and no future women directors have been announced.

On the DC Comics side, it’s much the same: Patty Jenkins directed 2017’s Wonder

Woman and the 2020 sequel Wonder Woman 1984, and Cathy Yan headed up the 2020 Harley Quinn flick Birds of Prey. They’re all spun out of stories about men and even though these movies are terrific, the fact that they likely wouldn’t exist at all without their male-centered progenitor stings. Where are the stories about women that didn’t need a man’s story to launch them?

Fortunately, we do have a few. Not all comic books are about traditional superheroes, and it’s in this realm where perhaps the best female-centered movies spawned by comic books exist: 2001’s Ghost World, from Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel, centers a young female dork languishing in the horrible, ugly real world of divey restaurants and depressing convenience stores.

Persepolis (2007), adapted from Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel about Iran before and during the Islamic revolution, is a brilliant cautionary tale about how fast tyranny can descend, and a coming-ofage tale of a girlhood lost too soon.

Atomic Blonde (2017), based on the graphic novel The Coldest City, is an actionpacked punching bag of Cold War spycraft and espionage exhaustion. The Old Guard, from 2020, grounds its fantasy about immortality in existential weariness.

A drop in the comic-book bucket, but we’ll take it. CW

Making History

New, free Museum of Utah opens this weekend on Capitol Hill.

BY ARICA ROBERTS

From the dinosaur fossils discovered in its desert soil to the state’s unique pop culture, the story of Utah has finally found a permanent home. Roughly 130 years after achieving statehood, the Museum of Utah opens its doors on Capitol Hill this Saturday, June 27.

While the Beehive State’s history is a fascinating collision of ancient landscapes, indigenous peoples and isolated pioneer communities, opening a state museum has been a century-long effort.

“We are the last state—or one of the last two—to get a dedicated state history museum in the nation,” said Tim Glenn, the museum’s director.

That changed after a confluence of factors, including state funding and a strategic opportunity at the recentlyrenovated Capitol complex, brought the long-desired museum to fruition.

Operated by the Utah Historical Society, the content of the museum’s exhibits was determined through a highly collaborative, communitybased process involving surveys, statewide focus groups—across areas like Cedar City, Fairview and Logan— and consultations with diverse community stakeholders and scholars.

Ultimately, a decision was made to structure the galleries thematically, rather than chronologically, to include more diverse stories and allow for future flexibility.

Organizers hope that the new museum will serve as a vital community space where Utahns can connect and create lasting memories.

And one of the best parts is that entry is always free.

“We went out into the community and talked to all sorts of different

people to hear what people around the state thought should be in the museum,” Glenn recounted. “And then, most importantly, [we] did a ton of consultation with Utah’s federally recognized tribes.”

Things of the Past

The Historical Society manages 30,000 state artifacts in their collection, so figuring out the most important stories to highlight without repeating the content of other museums around Salt Lake City was no easy task.

“A lot of people have defaulted to the Church History Museum,” Utah Historical Society director Jennifer Ortiz said. “They used to tell the Utah story, but actually they don’t anymore. They tell a more global story because the church is more global.”

But the Museum of Utah collaborated with the Church History Museum to help fill in the gaps on the Latter-day Saint pioneer experience missing from the Utah Historical Society’s collection.

“As a state institution, you would think we would have that and we don’t,” Ortiz explained. “So that was why the partnership with the Church History Museum was so important for us.”

Collaboration with other museums and heritage foundations across the state include the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City, the Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation and, as noted, representatives of Utah’s eight federally recognized tribes.

“We wanted to make sure that people could see themselves in the stories that were being told and that we were giving equal authority to some of those different kinds of histories,” said program manager Holly Andrew. “Not everyone has written history. And so we also wanted to make sure that oral traditions were also recognized in this space as well.”

Public feedback also directly influenced the inclusion of specific, popular exhibits, such as the Mormon Meteor racing car and the history of silkworms in Utah.

The museum’s four permanent galleries—Becoming Utah, Connecting Utah, Building Utah, and Inspiring

Utah—are organized thematically to accommodate a wider array of stories and to provide longevity and flexibility for future updates by allowing for artifacts to be rotated, keeping the museum dynamic and relevant over time. The thematic approach also acknowledges that learning history is not a timeline, but rather a process.

The Becoming Utah exhibit includes a nuanced depiction of migration in Utah. It features stories about the Topaz Relocation Center, a World War II concentration camp where the U.S. government forcibly incarcerated more than 11,000 Japanese Americans.

“We’re not shying away from ‘difficult’ history,” Ortiz emphasized. “And I like to say that in quotes, because it’s really important when we say that to recognize, ‘difficult’ for whom?”

Unlike most western states that developed as wild, chaotic boomtowns, Utah was meticulously planned, leading to a legacy of heavy early industrialization mixed with the preservation of tribal and pioneer heritage.

The Connecting Utah gallery includes this history of the built environment, such as the “Plat of Zion,” an urban planning design that served as the original blueprint for the gridded street layout in Salt Lake City.

The Building Utah gallery includes Utah’s labor history. While Utah’s state motto is “Industry,” the exhibit focuses on the people rather than Utah businesses and highlights major events like the Scofield mine disaster that occurred in 1900, as well as overlooked workers like unpaid and domestic laborers, especially women throughout Utah’s history.

And finally, the Inspiring Utah gallery gives voice to the diverse people of the state, with a continuous video playing of 100 different Utahns intended to demonstrate how the past is personal.

“We wanted to make sure that we were allowing the visitor to see the facts and come away with their own conclusions,” Andrew said. “We’re not trying to lead people one way or the other.”

All in Good Time

The museum’s opening while the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is intentional. Ortiz explained that exhibits are designed in such a way to reflect on what the 250 years of American independence means for Utahns in particular.

“It’s really great to be able to celebrate not just the 250th,” he said. “It’s kind of like a gift to Utahns.”

Haley Van Patton, communications director for both the Utah Historical Society and the Museum of Utah, added details about upcoming educational programs and field trips.

“We have partnership field trip opportunities for students in the museum and with the rest of the Capitol Complex and the Capitol Building,” she says.

The museum’s creation was made possible by state funding and a synergistic vision to combine a new archive collections facility with the redevelopment of the North Capitol Building site, where administrative offices for various state agencies were previously located.

It is designed to be artifact-focused, with plans to display around 950 items, including 100 works of fine art folk art from the state’s expansive collection.

From the iconic hot rod known as the “Mormon Meteor,” which set land-speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats, to works of art from the Alice Merrill Horn Fine Art Collection, the museum is not just a history museum, but a museum of history and culture.

Glenn’s core vision for the museum was for it to function as a free, accessible community hub, where people could have personal experiences, connect with others and create memories.

“I think museums and places like museums, across the board, are kind of what keep us held together as a community and as a culture,” he said.

A grand opening event is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at the North Capitol Building. Visit history.utah.gov/museum/ for updates and additional information. CW

Washington Square Dispatch

Salt Lake City Council approves tax increase and Hive Pass elimination in new budget.

BY GRACE X. MAYA

After weeks of debate and revisions, the Salt Lake City Council voted to approve a new city budget last week. Prepared materials confirmed that city property taxes will be raised 12.5%, or about $120 on a typical home valued at $625,000.

Water rates will increase by 38%, with other utilities ranging from a 9% increase in garbage costs to a 50% increase in street lighting fees.

Neither City Council members nor the mayor will receive salary increases, although the salary range for deputy department directors was raised by $30,000, setting the potential maximum pay for those positions a full $80,000 higher than the mayor’s salary.

The city was able to reach an understanding with its unions, including AFSCME (which represents municipal employees and library workers), the firefighter’s union and the SLC Police Department.

While the discounted Hive transit pass was discontinued, the Council did renew payments to the Utah Transit Authority to support a fre-

quent service network (FSN). FSN buses run at 15-minute frequencies on routes 1, 2, 9 and 21.

“Good job to the finance team and administration for working on one of the toughest budgets in a long time,” said councilmember and chairman Alejandro Puy. “Good job everyone.”

The budget also included widespread cuts to offset costs, and the Council intends to apply for state and federal grants to fund some services. Potential grants could cover pedestrian safety enhancements, inclusive playgrounds and policing near homeless shelters.

Resident Margaret Holloway spoke about the impact of a shelter on the city’s west side. Holloway was in support of grant opportunities, which could reimburse the city for existing SLCPD roles dedicated to public safety.

“That was the whole purpose of this grant,” Holloway said. “You’re supposed to help that person and that area to mitigate issues.”

District 5 resident Olive Peterson Jacoby took issue with one aspect of a pedestrian safety grant—LiDAR, a technology meant to determine pedestrian proximity with laser imaging. But with residents already chafing at the rollout of police drones, she said LiDAR could be seen as an extension of Salt Lake City’s surveillance state.

“Its effectiveness often falls short,” Peterson Jacoby said. “Beyond that, time and time again, it’s shown that technologies like these can be exploited. They’re often embraced without proper guardrails.”

The council ultimately voted to defer action on the LiDAR grant until a later date.

Bases Loaded

A

look at the local flavors on display at the America First Ballpark.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

With all the development going on in the Daybreak area surrounding the Ballpark at America First Square, it’s been an interesting time to be a South Jordan resident. Outside of the commercial area that has already been established, there’s all kinds of room for expansion. Based on what I’ve seen so far, that expansion has made a concerted effort to invite existing local businesses to the party. There’s still a lot of ground to cover out there, but at the moment, here are some local legends who are getting a unique opportunity to build their brand.

Taste of Red Iguana (rediguana.com):

Red Iguana and Red Iguana 2 have been Salt Lake City institutions for years and the local Mexican restaurant operated Taste of Red Iguana in the City Creek Center food court until very recently. The reason for this closure came when the restaurant got the chance to open a location near the America First Ballpark—I’d say this was the right call. Its Daybreak location is much bigger than the space Red Iguana had at City Creek and it has an extremely awesome red iguana sculpture on the outside.

Taste of Red Iguana brings all of the great flavors that made the original restaurant into such a popular spot downtown. Moles negro, amarillo, poblano, verde and coloradito are all on the menu, as are items like the Ballpark Nachos that lean into the restaurant’s newfound proximity. On a personal note, having a

DINE

Red Iguana this much closer to my neighborhood is nothing less than a stroke of good luck. I’m not much of a sports enthusiast, but if minor league baseball cuts down on the time it takes me to get good mole, I’ll be a Bees fan for life.

Hires Big H (hiresbigh.com): Since 1959, Hires Big H has prioritized a localfirst business model. To this day, the restaurant’s buns are baked locally using original founder Don Hale’s recipe. The beef in its burgers is trimmed and ground onsite daily, and its fries and onion rings are still prepared according to the standard Hale set when the first Hires restaurant opened nearly 70 years ago. Hires has locations in downtown Salt Lake and Midvale, but opening a third location in close proximity to a ballpark seems very on-brand for this local burger joint.

There is something old fashioned and nostalgic about visiting a Hires Big H, and that classic vibe pairs extremely well with a day at the ballgame. While Hires rose to prominence during McDonald’s meteoric rise, it’s maintained an attention to detail and commitment to quality that has made it such a popular destination for local burger fans. An old-fashioned burger right before taking a seat behind the ol’ dugout simply screams “America.”

Cutler Cookie Co. (cutlercookieco.com):

Before Chip and Crumbl perfected their high-efficiency cookie-delivery systems, you had to head all the way to Bountiful for a gourmet cookie that was worth the calories. Cutler Cookie Co. has stayed true to its small-town upbringing, and its friendly service and excellent menu of sammies and desserts are most welcome in South Jordan. Cutler has always been a throwback to old-school delis and it’s one of the few sandwich spots that actually makes a high-quality sandwich.

Fans of traditional deli sandos like the Reuben or French dip will feel right at home at Cutler Cookie Co., but even its less flashy sandwiches like the turkey avocado

and BLT are all kinds of memorable. The homemade bread, fresh ingredients and nice balance of sandwich flavors make for an excellent lunch experience, and Cutler serves a rotating soup menu for all those sandwich dunkers out there. Of course, it’s called Cutler Cookie Co. for a reason, and that reason is the homemade cookies that are a daily occurrence here. The frosted peanut butter is one of the finest cookies known to man while the frosted sugar cookie is a fan favorite because it’s everything one could want from a classic sugar cookie.

Rockwell Ice Cream (rockwellicecream. com): Another nostalgic shop that leans into the sweet side of dining out, Rockwell Ice Cream is my favorite local alternative to a place like Cold Stone. Rockwell started out in downtown Provo and has since opened locations in City Creek and the Salt Lake International Airport; as far as local ice cream goes, this place has become a modern classic. Its ice cream menu is known for its high butterfat content and slow-churned process, resulting in a creamy dessert that has a texture you just can’t get anywhere else.

The menu of signature flavor compositions is impressive, but there are a few that you absolutely must try. The G.O.A.T. is worthy of its title—it’s a goat cheese ice cream mixed with blackberry lemon jam and tossed with rosemary-roasted almonds. It’s every bit as good as it sounds and was enough to secure the title of America’s Best Ice Cream in 2019. I also liked the honeycomb, which is packed with honeycomb candy made from the restaurant’s vintage copper kettle. Like Hires Big H, there is something iconically Americana about homemade ice cream and baseball.

It’s nice to see this Daybreak expansion include some local restaurants—especially those from further up north or down south. Local vittles should always accompany local baseball, after all. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale

2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Total Jamnation - Fruited sour

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Drop Top - English summer ale (collab with Salt Flats)

Bewilder Brewing

445 S. 400 West, SLC

BewilderBrewing.com

On Tap: Pink Boots - Pink Pony Pilz

Bohemian Brewery

94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale

BohemianBrewery.com

NEW Releases: Kölsch, Dusseldorfer “Alt” Bier

Bonneville Brewery

1641 N. Main, Tooele

BonnevilleBrewery.com

On Tap: Peaches and Cream Ale

Chappell Brewing

2285 S Main Street, SLC chappell.beer

On Tap: Pie Hole - Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap: Edge’s Special Bitter ESB

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: A rotation of 8 new draft beers!

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey EttaPlaceCider.com

On Tap: 435 Hopped Cider, Pineapple-Passion Fruit Session Mead

Fisher Brewing Co.

320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com

On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!

Grid City Beer Works

333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com

In a Can: Extra Pale Ale

Heber Valley Brewing

501 N. Main Street, Heber City hebervalleybrewing.com

Freshly Canned: Sunset Peak Pilsner 5.8% ABV

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper helperbeer.com

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

On Tap: Belgian Single

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)

Kiitos Brewing Sugar House Bar 1533 S. 1100 East, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Draft: Bliss IPA (Extremely Small Batch)

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

On Tap: Nitro Sinday Pale Ale

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

On Tap: Helles Munich Pale Lager

Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com

On Tap:  “Big Drop” West Coast Pilsner

Mountain West Cider

425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com

On Tap: Mango Karma (Mango chai hard cider)

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

Ogden Beer Company 358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com

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

Park City Brewing 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com

On Tap: Meet Me @ The Provo IPA

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

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

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

On Tap: Concerning Hops - West Coast IPA

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

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

On Tap: Concerning HopsWest Coast IPA

Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com

On Tap: Gypsy Scratch

Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Grand Bavaria

Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com

On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier

RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com

On Tap: Bramble Brown

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Hibiscus Sour

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

On Tap/Canned: Monachus

Adriatic Pilsner 5%

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com

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

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

On Tap: Rosé Ruckus 7.2% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek secondsummitcider.com On Tap: Blackberry Lime

Shades Brewing 1388 S. 300 West, SLC ShadesBrewing.beer

New Batch: Raspberry Pistachio Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street, SLC Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Six Wheat Under Hefeweizen

Silver Reef

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

Squatters Brew Pub Sugar House

2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC squatterspubs.com

On Tap:  Salt Lake Brewing Co. Big U Pilsner

Squatters Brew Pub West Valley

3555 Constitution Blvd, West Valley City squatterspubs.com

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

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

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Emigration Amber Ale

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

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

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville 596 S 1750 W, Springville StrapTankBrewery.com

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

TF Brewing

936 S. 300 West, SLC TFBrewing.com

On Tap: Twelve taps and high point cans available.

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

On Tap: Berry Keller (Kellerbier); Save the Fkn Bees (Smoked Honey Kolsch)

Thieves Guild Cidery

117 W. 900 South, SLC thievesguildcidery.com

NEW: Seaside CitadelPineapple and passion fruit cider with a hint of sea salt | 6.5%

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

On Tap: Was Angeles Craft Beer

UTOG

2331 Grant Ave, Ogden UTOGBrewing.com

On Tap: Bar Down IPA

Vernal Brewing

55 S. 500 East, Vernal VernalBrewing.com

Zion Brewery

95 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale ZionBrewery.com

BEER NERD

Better Together

When brewing minds meet, great things happen.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Templin Family / pFriem FamilypFamily Pilsner: Collaborations often bring together different brewing philosophies and sometimes the results feel like compromises. That’s certainly not the case with pFamily Pilsner, the joint effort between Templin Family Brewery in Salt Lake City and pFriem Family Brewers from Hood River, Ore. Instead, this lager feels like two breweries finding common ground through balance, technical execution and a deep appreciation for classic European-inspired brewing.

Brewed in Salt Lake City, pFamily Pilsner showcases a hop bill featuring Huell Melon, Hallertau Blanc and New Zealand Cascade. From the first sip, the beer hits with a remarkably dry profile and a firm hop presence that elevates it beyond a simple everyday pilsner. The toastiness is immediate and refreshing, setting the stage for layers of nuanced flavor that continue to unfold as the glass empties.

One of the more intriguing aspects is a subtle berry-skin tanginess lurking deep in the background. It’s faint, but it adds a distinctive character that recalls elements of a Kölsch while never distracting from the beer’s lager foundation. Instead, it works in harmony with the crisp finish, providing just enough complexity to keep things interesting.

The malt profile is equally impressive. Toasty pilsner malt delivers notes of fresh bread crust and light sweetness, creating a sturdy backbone beneath the expressive hops. Herbal and grassy qualities emerge throughout the palate, while flashes of zesty fruit character dance along the edges. There’s a delicate berry note woven into the hop expression that nudges the beer toward the Czech side of the pilsner spectrum without abandoning its modern craft identity.

Verdict: What stands out most is the balance. Every component feels deliberate and polished. The dryness, toastiness, herbal hop character and subtle fruit notes all work together seamlessly.

After a few sips, it becomes obvious why this beer earned a gold medal at the International Beer and Cider Awards before its official release.

Salt Lake Brewing - ConspiRYEcy

Theory: Innovation in brewing often comes down to one simple question: What happens when you throw something completely new into the mix? Salt Lake Brewing Company’s latest rye pale ale answers that question, showcasing an experimental hop developed by Roy Hop Farms and proving that sometimes the unknown can produce something truly memorable.

Head Brewer Jason Stock selected a rye pale ale as the foundation for this hopforward experiment, and it turns out to be an inspired choice. From the first pour, the aroma hints that this beer is heading somewhere interesting. A pleasant spiced orange character rises from the glass, combining bright citrus with a subtle peppery note from the rye malt.

The first sip is where things really get exciting. The experimental hop variety delivers a flavor profile that feels both familiar and completely unique. Vibrant fruit punch notes burst onto the palate, followed by an unmistakable orange sucker candy character that immediately grabs the attention. It’s bold, playful and surprisingly refined all at once. Fortunately, the beer doesn’t rely solely on the novelty of the hop. The rye malt provides a snappy backbone that keeps everything in balance. Rye can sometimes dominate a beer with aggressive spice and earthiness, but that’s not the case here. Instead, it acts as a supporting player, contributing just enough spice to accentuate the hop character without stealing the spotlight.

Verdict: What makes this beer stand out is the interaction between the rye and the hops. That orange-lollipop sweetness from the experimental variety meshes beautifully with the grain’s natural spiciness, creating a flavor combination that feels intentional and complete. Each sip reveals another layer of citrus, candylike fruit and gentle rye spice.

ConspiRYEcy Theory is a draft-only beer that can be found at Salt Lake Brewing Company (Squatters) downtown. pFamily Pilsner is available in cans and on draft at TF Brewing and pFriem Family Brewing. Both of these will move fast, so don’t wait too long. As always, cheers! CW

Protect Your Loved Ones

OPENING SOON!

COMING JUNE2026

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Savor the Summit

The Park City Restaurant Association will be hosting its annual Savor the Summit event on June 27 at 6 p.m. The event celebrates the city’s renowned dining scene by hosting a one-night roundup of prix fixe options from local restaurants like Purple Sage, Fletcher’s, Courchevel Bistro and Don Gallo. Attendees will also be able to check out the Matilda Sundowner, an Australianinfused cocktail party complete with a raw bar, imported wine and a live DJ along with the High West Spirit Garden which will feature a menu of High West’s signature spirits. Reservations for your favorite restaurant can be made at parkcityrestaurants.com.

Summer Solstice Garden Party at Red Butte

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum (redbuttegarden.org) will be hosting its Summer Solstice Garden Party on June 25 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Any excuse to visit Red Butte is a good one, but there’s something particularly indulgent about this celebration of summer’s longest day of sunshine (albeit a few days late). In addition to enjoying live music and getting the chance to see the garden grounds in peak natural light, The Blended Table will be operating four food stations, each one inspired by a specific season. Food stations have been designed to accommodate guests with dietary restrictions by featuring gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

U of U Senior Director of Dining Services Receives National Recognition

University of Utah and Chartwells Higher Education recently announced that Senior Director of Dining Services Shannon Mohyuddin will be a finalist for the Paul Fairbrook Spirit of Service Award. The award is presented annually by the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS). Mohyuddin has been with University of Utah Dining Services for nearly 30 years and her spot as a finalist for the Spirit of Service Award reflects her commitment to compassion, leadership, collaboration and service.

Quote of the Week: “Nothing helps scenery like bacon and eggs.” – Mark Twain

On a Pale Horse He Rides

An alleyway anniversary party brings the SLC music scene together to celebrate Greg Downs of Pale Horse Sound.

BY LANEY HANSEN comments@cityweekly.net

From fan to musician, the Salt Lake City music scene is a family—something which was evident at Pale Horse Sound Studios’ 10th anniversary show on May 31. Celebrating 10 years of Pale Horse Sound, a bunch of bands came together in the Kilby Court alleyway for a once-in-a-lifetime event. From longtime musicians like Cardinal Bloom and Drusky to emerging artists like Blind Temptress and Bleacher Babe along with a surprise performance by Utah legends The Backseat Lovers, a night like this couldn’t get any more familial.

Greg Downs describes himself as a “frustrated guitar player” but he is also the owner and self-curator of Pale Horse Sound. Originally from Northern Utah, he’s been live sound-mixing, managing tours, coordinating productions and producing records for Utah locals and neighboring bands for over 30 years. And 10 years into his time with Pale Horse Sound, he’s in the process of opening a second studio (to be announced in coming weeks).

Downs was first inspired to create his own music by attending a Van Halen show when he was 13 years old. Now 45, he’s become a legend both locally and even worldwide, working shows and managing bands across all spectrums. It was through another sound legend from Northern Utah, Mike Jones, that Downs got his first gig, serving a PA system for a small touring band and making $100.

“He [Jones] brought me on that next summer to do shop work, and I apprenticed under one of his other engineers there, and worked so many shows, like they all taught me how to do all the logistics of engineering sound, doing PAs and things,” Downs said. “Yeah, that’s kind of how I got into it. Just by necessity, I just wanted to do those things, but didn’t have any budget or money to do it, and so just kind of figured it out and realized, ‘Oh, it might be cheaper to buy some of this equipment and figure out how to do it.’”

From there, Downs took on sound-producing for his own band and others like it, being completely self-taught besides the subscription he had to a guitar magazine in the 1990s. And down the road, decades later, Pale Horse Sound became the fourth iteration of Down’s self-owned project.

What got him there?

Working at a sign shop.

After working in factories, blue-collar jobs, telephone companies and everything else under the sun, Downs added another skill to his repertoire by entering the graphic-design world, which led him to produce album art, start his own business and get to know the community.

“It’s [graphic design] like the perfect scenario to allow me to spend time and energy doing these other things, but also give me some skills with people, and having meetings,” Downs added. “I have a lot of client meetings now, but to produce a record, or we’re talking about visions for music videos … really, it worked out well.”

The relationship Downs builds with musicians and the community is unlike any other in the region, as described by local band The Painted Roses.

“To be able to see this little bubble he’s created is really cool,” said Cole Stocker, Painted Roses frontman. “So, to make connections with the other people he’s worked with, in a way, you don’t really get this often with other bands. You kind of walk into a gig and you say hi, and then you’re not really connected outside of

MUSIC

that very much, where it feels very different here. Like we’ve already had some pretty good conversations with some other members of the band, and everyone’s just happy to be here.”

The band recorded with Downs in the summer of 2025, and from that experience, they became the house band of the evening and backed up four other artists. But each band on the bill has their own special relationship with Downs and Pale Horse Sound, some longtime partners and others just barely recording their first record. Over Under was one of these bands, producing their first record with Downs in 2024, but had known him from years before; he used to be their tour manager.

“He’s just the best guy ever, treats everyone like family, welcomes everyone in,” said Jaden Gwynn, member of Over Under. “You just form a really tight bond when you record with him, because he’s such a sweet, caring guy.”

Other bands involved in the anniversary evening included Blind Temptress, California’s Sleeping with Socks On, Bleacher Babe, Drusky, Walter James, Bella Woods, Mia Hicken, Wyatt Pike, Arizona’s MoonTour, Cardinal Bloom and, as previously noted, The Backseat Lovers. It was a new kind of experience at Kilby Court, watching bands play a big stage in the alleyway, and there’s something special about that type of musical sensation. A much-deserved celebration along with a toe-dip into what could become an annual event, “Pale Horse 10” was one for the books. Some participants hope for more opportunities to hold a festival like this and for the local music community to grow. With Pale Horse around, it’ll do just that.

“It would be absolutely amazing to have something like this on the block every year,” said JJ Conk, member of Bleacher Babe. Hopefully that could become a reality in the coming years. CW

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

The Crane Wives @ The Complex 6/26

Entering from the indie folk boom of the early 2010s, The Crane Wives are made up by Grand Rapids, Mich. natives Emilee Petersmark (guitar and vocals), Kate Pillsbury (guitar and vocals), Dan Rickabus (drums and vocals) and Ben Zito (bass). In the likeness of other modern folk groups like Of Monsters and Men and The Lumineers, The Crane Wives broke out during the folk renaissance and succeeded with popular records like Coyote Stories and Foxlore, both released in 2015 . After the loss of former band member Tom Gunnels and a missed opportunity to sign a record deal, the band broke out again five years later during the COVID-19 pandemic on social media platforms, along with other popular folk artists like Gregory Alan Isakov. It was this development that brought their sixth studio record in 2024, Beyond Beyond Beyond —and now, they’re touring once again. Their music takes flight within each track as the leading duo, Petersmark and Pillsbury, invite the listener to a campfire story told within the span of three minutes. Each track feels fantastical and enters a world of mischief from the tone and growth in cadence of each instrument as the band reaches the climax. And as they’ve gained traction, the world has only continued to grow. So become a part of their world and check out The Crane Wives, headlining at The Complex on Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m., with support from Yasmin Williams. Tickets are $40 and you can find yours now at axs.com. (Laney Hansen)

Space Weather & Secret Gardens Salty Toes Summer Sendoff

Salt Lake Air Guitar 2026

Under Exile

Heaven Content

Icarus & Witch Bitch: Wild West Tour

MUSIC PICK S

J Boog @ The Union 6/26

For over two decades, J Boog’s music, live performances, philosophy and particularly his remarkable voice have connected with audiences and in no small way. The 2011 LP Backyard Boogie by the artist born Jerry Fealofani Afemata showcased star quality with his “lovers rock” sensibility on standout tracks such as “Sunshine Girl,” “Mystery” and “Let’s Do it Again.” Recently, his cover of Louis Prima’s “Pennies From Heaven” proves that this man has the vibe and the consciousness in his bones, and that it’s all about the love for reggae music. “I guess I found reggae, you know what I mean?” Afemata told Afro Pop. “We’d listen to that stuff growing up in Compton. When I started listening to the lyrics and understanding them, you know, it made me escape. From then on, I was hooked.” All musical styles have a precursor and I actually think it’s fresh that reggae is covered with poppy melodies that somehow make it more familiar. I swear, when I listen, I can smell the ocean breeze, taste the sweet mangoes, feel the thunk-a-dunk rhythm of the sound system as my aching bones tap a deep memory and silently try to realign themselves into something of a dancehall. J Boog is a roots radical and a proper showman with a defiant message of love. Catch this musician as Reggae Rise Up presents J Boog at the Union Event Center on Friday, June 26. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $33.55 and can be found at ticketmaster.com. (Mark Dago)

MUSIC PICK S

Deorro @ The Great Saltair 6/26

It seems like yesterday that Los Angeles DJ and producer Deorro (Erick Orrosquieta) released his album Orro, which was written entirely in Spanish and bridged the gap between mainstream electronic music and Latin dance music. The album featured songs like “Yo Las Pongo” featuring the Mexican norteño band Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Dominican producer Maffio.

Another song, “Se Vuelve Loca,” featuring Cuban reggaeton duo Gente De Zona, has expanded EDM into new territories and into the mainstream limelight. He’s most well-known for his single “Bailar,” which is now an eight-times Platinumcertified hit that also won Latin Billboard’s “Tropical Song of The Year” and was afterwards recorded with the legendary singer Pitbull. And now this year, the globallycertified, chart-topping, platinum-selling Latin/EDM hybrid artist dropped his newest album BOTAS Y RAVE , which features 11 tracks also blending electronic music with traditional Mexican styles like cumbia, banda and quebradita (a dance that translates to “little break” characterized by fast, syncopated brass rhythms).

The album includes the standout hit single “Un Poquito Más” alongside fan favorites “Zapateado Electrónico” and “Activo.” His tour, also called BOTAS Y RAVE, is hosted by MASV Presents, with Salt Lake City as a popular stop. Wear your cowboy boots with your rave outfit and you will fit right in!

This is an 18+ event on Friday, June 26 at The Great Saltair in Magna. Doors open at 9 p.m. General admission costs $58.57 at tixr.com. (Arica Roberts)

Gralley, Allo Monroe, Teddy P @ Kilby Court 6/30

Sometimes all you need is an infusion of fantastic indie rock, which is best consumed live. Gralley is an indie/alt rock group that has managed to captivate audiences with only two released songs—but a great two songs they are. Their debut single “Heaven Sent (ft. Ignatious)” dropped last January and sounds as heavenly as its name. The track is atmospheric with its layers of soaring electric guitar with a steady drumbeat behind it. After the first 20 seconds or so of the song, soft, angelic vocals come in, adding to the heavenlythemed vibe. The track is light and airy, but

still feels grounded as the sound ebbs and flows with energy. Their subsequent single “Floorboards” was made in collaboration with one of SLC’s rock favorites, Homestyle Dinner Rolls. It’s a lovely pairing and fun to see the Dinner Rolls do something on the softer side. Also joining in on the fun is Allo Monroe, an alt/rock group that fuses melodic soul of Brazilian music with American rock. They released their debut album Something I Could Lose last month, offering listeners a satisfying and unique journey. Rounding out the bill for the evening is Teddy P, a group that has made a sound of their own. With a mix of rock and chamber ensemble, you’ll never be bored listening to their music. Catch this local lineup on Tuesday, June 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $12.15 in advance or $13.99 at the door. Pick up tickets at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

Wolfmother @ Union Event Center

7/1 Guitarist, singer and songwriter Andrew Stockdale launched Wolfmother in 2004.

The band’s proudly-retro musical character is built on a foundation of 1960s and early 1970s acts, most noticeably Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath; that style earned Wolfmother a legion of fans. Perhaps less expected was the response of critics: Often a most discerning lot, music critics have heaped praise on Wolfmother, citing the band’s attention to classic hard rock values paired with original songwriting. The band’s 2005 self-titled debut was a juggernaut, going 5X Platinum in their native Australia and charting well in nine other countries (including #22 in the U.S.). Stockdale is the band’s only constant, as Wolfmother is currently on its seventh bassist and ninth drummer (six keyboardists and three second guitarists have come and gone), but—with apologies to Led Zeppelin—the sound remains the same.

The band’s albums haven’t charted since 2016’s Victorious , but Stockdale and his current bandmates still rock with passion and commitment. 2021’s aptly named Rock Out is Wolfmother’s latest; critics likened it to classic rockers like Motörhead, Kiss, Foreigner and Ozzy Osbourne. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the band comes to Union Event Center on Wednesday, July 1 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $45.90 from ticketmaster.com. (Bill Kopp)

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

The interesting struggles you’ll wage in the coming weeks will require your vulnerability: showing up exactly as you are when you might rather fight or escape. Your warrior nature probably prefers a clear enemy or a definable prob lem you can confront, but the truer conquest will come from laying down your weaponry. I suggest you meet aggression with curiosity and engage chaos with receptive stillness. At least for now, your greatest strength will be to remain undominated by your own reactive impulses. Think of it as an advanced martial art.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to be inspired by this wisdom from artist Pablo Picasso: “I am always doing that which I cannot do in order that I may learn how to do it.” He’s proposing that we treat a lack of expertise not as an embarrassment, but as a doorway. Instead of waiting until we feel ready, trained and confident, he suggests we head into territory where we fumble, guess and feel awkward. Our discomfort may lead to gratifying growth. So I dare you to ask yourself whether there’s a capacity or skill you’d love to add to your repertoire but are too shy or timid to try. Then take small, imperfect steps toward it, trusting that each move will teach you how to do what once felt impossible.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Hummingbirds keep track of every flower they visit and know how long it will take each one to replenish its nectar. They maintain mental maps of many feeding sites and visit them on precise schedules. To ensure their survival, they can’t waste energy on flowers that aren’t ready yet. Your mind could work like this if you want it to, Gemini. Which people, places and projects need time to refill before you visit them again? Who have you been approaching too frequently, seeking their nectar before it has had time to regenerate? In the coming weeks, practice strategic patience with your resources. In your secret conversations with yourself, call yourself “Hummingbird.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Now is an auspicious time to declare a sweeping amnesty and observe a personal season of pardon. To the best of your ability, release your clenched feelings about people who have caused you pain. Banish blame! Purge any lingering resentment and regret that has curdled into self‑reproach. Celebrate atonement and absolution! Most vital of all, exonerate yourself. Shed the guilt you’ve carried for missteps and missed chances. And please offer yourself a sweet gift: a ritual of renewal.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

If you happen to be swallowed whole by a dragon or whale sometime soon, don’t freak out. It’s far preferable to being chomped into bits first, which absolutely won’t happen. You may indeed spend a brief spell inside the creature’s dark belly, but I confidently predict you will ultimately be deposited on the outside in one intact piece, after which you will only need to find your meandering way back home. The whole episode may be confounding or humbling, but I bet it will also scrub you free of a load of old karma.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Bees perform what scientists call a “waggle dance” to com municate the location of flowers to their hive mates. But the directions are sometimes imprecise, and the apparent slop piness of the dance actually helps the hive. It forces other bees to explore areas more broadly, discovering new food sources that the original bee might have missed. Perfect information would make them too efficient to be adaptable. Your precision is one of your gifts, Virgo, but right now I think you need strategic vagueness and fuzzy logic. Leave some directions unclear. Mistakes and misunderstandings might lead to discoveries that your perfect plans would have eliminated.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

In ancient Greek thought, kairos referred to the opportune moment. It meant the right timing, when circumstances aligned for action to be most effective. The term chronos on the other hand, was about sequential time, which blindly marched forward without any regard for special moments or auspiciousness. Most of us are more or less hypnotized by chronos c onsciousness. We measure our lives by calen dar dates and external schedules. But in the coming weeks, Libra, I recommend you stay on high alert for kairos rich pivots. For now, suspend inquiries like “Am I on schedule?” and ask, “Are the circumstances ripe?”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Ravens are strongly motivated to engage in elaborate play: aerial acrobatics, complex games, sliding down snowbanks and sharing food with non relatives. These behaviors lack an immediate payoff, yet support learning, motor skill development and social relationships. They seem to be emotionally rewarding and advantageous for survival and success over the long term. Let’s apply this to you, Scorpio. Let’s conclude that delight isn’t wastefully frivolous and that pleasure doesn’t need to justify itself through pro ductivity. In the coming weeks, you may face pressure to explain or defend your joy, as if to prove it’s worth it in some utilitarian way. Refuse. Like the ravens, engage in purpose less beauty and fun simply because it feels so good.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Glaciologists studying ice cores can read Earth’s climate history going back 800,000 years. Each layer contains trapped air bubbles. These are time capsules that preserve the atmospheric composition of each moment. The ice remembers everything. You accumulate similar records. Each of your experiences leaves its trace. And in the coming weeks, you will have extra access to these archived layers of your own history. Memories and patterns you thought were lost will surface with intriguing clarity. I hope you study these revelations to glean insight about your long term patterns and cycles. It’s time to see the Big Picture.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Many people forget, but you know: Structure is the foun dation for freedom, not a suppression of it. While others fantasize about escaping responsibility, you know mastery is key to emancipation. When properly practiced, your flair for discipline adds vigor and rigor. More than any other sign of the zodiac, you are adept at using limits to give unlimited possibilities their specific shape. I trust you will express all these Capricornian powers to the max in the coming weeks. People in your life need them even more than usual.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Horticulturists practice “deadheading.” They remove spent flowers from plants to encourage new vitality. Faded flow ers drain energy that could go to fresh growth. Plants that have been deadheaded produce more abundant blooms than those left to manage decay. I recommend a meta phorical version of this to you. You’ll be wise to deadhead your emotional garden. Certain attachments, once vibrant and nourishing, have expired. They’re not evil or wrong; they’re simply finished. It’s best not to keep directing pre cious energy toward maintaining their faded forms. With gratitude for the old beauty, clear the way for new beauty.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

For maximum safety, be as uninteresting as possible. Shun risks that shake up your beliefs and avoid adventures that expose you to people who aren’t similar to you. If you want to be certain about preserving your security and stability, as I’m recommending, the sure method is to retreat to your power spot and do nothing at all. Wait! Stop! Dear Pisces, everything I just said was pure misdirection! I was joking! In fact, the opposite is true. The true way to nurture genuine safety and security is to pursue what sparks your curiosity and lights up your zeal. And the coming days are likely to provide you with plenty of chances to do exactly that.

Data Engineer, Consultant (Health Catalyst Inc; South Jordan, UT): Ensure there is a queue of measurable opportunities for clients to drive down cost, improve quality & improve patient exp. Min req’s: Mast in IT, Math, Stats, or businessrel field + 3 yrs exp in tech rel field + add’l skills. Up to 10% domestic travel to client sites. Telecom permitted. Send resume to Summer Ellis at summer.ellis@healthcatalyst. com. Ref: 00077331. An EOE.

Sr Integrations Software Engineer (Health Catalyst Inc; South Jordan, UT): Implement Health Catalyst Community Health Record in HIEs in different states. Telecommuting permitted. Min req’s: Mast or equiv in Info Sys or related + 3 yrs working w/HIE supporting design, dev, & maintenance integrations + add’l skills. Send resume to Summer Ellis at summer.ellis@healthcatalyst. com. Ref: 00077332. An EOE

Marketing Research Analyst (Job ID# MRA0320) sought by Ripple Investment Group LLC in Salt Lake City, UT: Plan & execute mktg strategies to support franchise restaurant operations & investments. Dvlp & implmt mktg plans aligned w/ business goals. Manage brand image & ensure consistent messaging across all channels. Conduct mkt research to identify trends, customer preferences, & competitive insights. Monitor digital & social media campaigns to drive customer engagement. Coord w/ franchise partners to align promotional activities & brand positioning. Plan & execute community engagement events to enhance brand visibility. Analyze mktg performance & prep reports for mgmt review. Identify growth opportunities to increase customer engagement & expand mkt share. Reqmt: Bach’s deg in Int’l Business, Mktg, Business Administration, or rltd field. 4 yrs of progressively responsible exp in mktg or business dvlpmt. Familiarity w/ int’l business operations, cross-cultural mktg, & franchise dvlpmt. Proficiency in digital mktg tools, social media platforms, & customer relationship mgmt (CRM) systems. Ability to conduct mkt research, analyze data, & prep strategic reports. Familiarity w/ budgeting, int’l expansion strategies, & brand mgmt across diverse mkts. apply, mail CV w/ Job ID#: MRA0320 to Chen Tian, 3390 S State St, Ste 32, Salt Lake City, UT 84115.

Jeuveau

urban LIVING

ADU Updates

Salt Lake City has several different zoning codes, ranging from very low-density, single-family areas to high-density neighborhoods with multi-family dwellings. Out of the city’s 30 zoning classifications—including commercial, industrial and special-purpose areas—12 allow some form of residential property.

Each zone restricts the kinds of buildings and activities that can exist on a private parcel, ostensibly to help prevent conflicts between different uses. You don’t want a noisy, stinky factory next door to your home or—as was seen in the ‘80s and ‘90s in Draper—a pig farm next door to your new housing subdivision.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Vamoose

6. Campaign ctrs.

9. “That’s the way ___”

13. Wrestler Stratus

14. Well-behaved

16. Computer-generated art, uncharitably

18. Criticize harshly

19. “Can I bother you?”

21. Abbr. on a vitamin bottle

22. Boston skyscraper nickname, with “the”

23. Before, in poems

24. “___ Beso (That Kiss!)” (1962 Paul Anka hit)

25. “Jeopardy!” end-of-season event, for short

26. Completely asleep

27. Cheese exterior

29. “The Santaland Diaries” occupation

31. Face-in-hands reaction to a bad landing, perhaps

33. Racecar driver?

Utah’s capital city has been looking at updating its zoning rules, especially those that pertain to single-family housing regulations. Right now, there are three main zones for single-family homes, with rules stating that a new home must be built on lots between 5,000 and 12,000 square feet in size.

Unless you’re a major gardener, need a massive garage or have an athome workshop, many people don’t use much of their yards. And a growing trend now is to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on that unused land. But up until a few years ago, there were very few areas where that kind of lowdensity construction was allowed, despite a massive housing crunch.

Citizens and city leaders are now putting together a package of new land-use rules that would make it easier to add housing inventory, particularly by loosening the rules for smaller homes and ADUs in the city.

St. George and Washington County, where I often work, have had a longstanding policy allowing for ADUs (also known as “casitas”), as long as the structure abides by rules dictating the size, height, parking spaces, lot requirements and rental uses for such in-law and guest-house units. Since the area is known for retirees, it makes sense to allow extra living space in which family members and caretakers can reside—and do so affordably.

Most homes with casitas that I’ve shown and sold have these mini homes in the rear yard, and they often look like the main home. They typically are around 800 to 1000 square feet, with one or two bedrooms, bathrooms, an open kitchen and great room, but no basement. Parking is sometimes located in a third space at the primary home or on the street. Unless you walked into the rear yard, you might not even know the second dwelling is there!

If you want to add such a dwelling, call the SLC Planning and Zoning department or go to slc.gov/planning/ zoning to read the current rules and regulations. If you’re really interested, you can attend the Planning and Zoning Commission, held monthly at the city or available to watch online with a live stream through SLCtv on their YouTube channel. You can subscribe to the live meetings of the City Council, CRA Board and Historic Landmarks Commission meetings as well. ■

35. Gem finder

36. Beachside establishment where “there’s always money,” on “Arrested Development”

39. Coastal area

41. Yogurt brand founded in Colorado

42. “The Color Purple” author

44. Senior exec. with a J.D.

45. Yanks’ opponents

49. Ugandan dictator Amin

50. Floatie filler

52. Row or verb ender?

54. Guardians, on the scoreboard

55. Network launched in 1981

56. Report card stat

57. Log off

59. Like someone shivering in a cold wind, maybe

62. Chooses by ballot

63. Goes along with

64. Nebraska’s largest city

65. Sit for a painting

66. Assessment

67. As bad as it gets

DOWN

1. Theater director, say

2. A ___ (deductively)

3. Pay attention

4. Ibiza, por ejemplo

5. The items over there

6. In great demand

7. Cube-hopping ‘80s arcade creature

8. Recreational watercraft brand

9. Number opposite IX on a clock

10. Value of a U.K. note currently depicting Jane Austen on the back

11. Butt in

12. More heavyset

15. Euros replaced them in Greece

17. Spanish currency before the euro

20. Costa Rican currency (or, without the accent, a punctuation mark)

28. Former German currency, for short

30. Swiss currency used in Liechtenstein

32. Currency of Libya, Jordan, or Algeria

34. Base unit of U.S. gold coins prior to 1933 (equivalent to $10)

36. Venezuelan monetary units (in the English plural)

37. Peruvian currency in the plural (or bottoms of shoes)

38. Canadian $2 coin, informally

39. Pool wear

40. Couldn’t stay

Last week’s answers

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

is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the

with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically

to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

NEWS of the WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

Your Tax Dollars at Work

A recently released video from the Pasadena Police Department shows one officer shooting and injuring another during what Police Chief Gene Harris cat egorized as “unsafe and out of policy horseplay.” On June 15, the Los Angeles Times reported that during the incident, which occurred on Sept. 7, 2025, a police cruiser entered a department parking garage, where two uniformed officers were standing near a police SUV. Then, in a move described as “inappropriate,” one of the standing officers drew his handgun and pointed it at the driver of the cruiser before putting it away and smiling with his fellow officer. In response, the driver drew his own weapon, which then discharged a round and hit the first officer in the shoulder. That officer has since recovered from his injuries, and the one who discharged his weapon is no longer employed with the department. The incident sparked an internal investiga tion, and the video was kept under wraps to protect the integrity of the investigation. It was later released only after new evidence came to light that led to additional officers being put on leave. “This type of unprofessional behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said. “The police chief assures me the incident has been thoroughly investi gated and appropriate discipline taken, and I support the chief’s decisions.”

Artsy Fartsy

■ A pop up museum in Paris is taking an unusual approach, The Seattle Times reported on June 16. Rather than offering its visitors visually pleasing paintings or sculptures, the Pont Neuf Cavern aims to stimulate its guests’ sense of smell. French street artist JR—known as the French Banksy—is behind the new installation located on the Pont Neuf Bridge, Paris’ oldest bridge, which was completed in the year 1607. As visitors enter the artificial cavern, they are met with the smell of petrichor, which was carefully crafted by olfactory expert Sarah Bouasse. “Usually I cross here without looking up once,” said one visitor, 67 year old retiree Michel Dupre. “Today I felt the stones under my feet. And smelled them too. It makes you walk like a child again.” The smells progress as visitors make their way through the tunnel, and a soundscape by Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk and digital art by JR round out the sensory experience. The special exhibition will close June 28. Until then, admission is free and visitors can enter any time of day or night.

■ One Scottish woman’s home has become a local attraction after she decorated it to look like Barbie’s Dreamhouse, the Mirror reported on June 9. Nicole Watt, 27, of Carluke, Scotland, says that she was inspired by the Barbie fans in her life: her three young daugh ters. Watt says that she spent six months and 5,000 pounds on the home transformation, which included a Barbie themed mannequin, palm tree, dressing table, surfboard, pink disco ball, flamingos and beach toys. She had some help, though: “The girls’ papa and gran made the house, the surfboards, pantries, lampposts and palm trees—everything Barbie requires,” Watt said. The display was constructed as part of a local com munity celebration day, and she plans to take it down as soon as the scaffolding needed for the dismantling arrives, though her children would prefer otherwise. “They don’t want it to go down,” Watt said. “They think they can invite their friends over and stay there.” Locals have been largely supportive of the display, with some even driving by to take photos, and the home has gone viral on social media. “This has been a lovely effort for her girls and the neighborhood,” one commenter said. “Surely she doesn’t have to take it down yet. It’s so bright and cheerful.”

I Just Play One on TV

Derek Schaufus, 30, of Palm Bay, Florida, was arrest ed on June 8 for obstruction by a disguised person and practicing law without a license, WKMG News 6 reported on June 11. Back in April, officers in Brevard County pulled over a woman during a traffic stop and discovered a controlled substance in her car. The woman called a friend of a friend, who claimed he was a lawyer. Enter Schaufus, who appeared on the scene in a suit and tie, claiming to be certified to practice law in both Georgia and Florida, and attempting to negotiate a deal for his “client.” He could not, however, produce his credentials when officers pressed him. Further investi gation revealed that Schaufus was, in fact, not a lawyer, and he was placed under arrest.

Banana Chip Bandit

Annette Nichols, 59, of Vero Beach, Florida, was arrested following a crime spree that lasted weeks, The Smoking Gun reported on June 9. Her charge? Stealing $300 worth of banana chips from two different Publix super markets. “It should be important to note that due to this ongoing theft of banana chips, [the Publix deli manager] has limited the amount of banana chip stock he puts on the shelf,” the arrest affidavit said. Nichols allegedly stole 13 bags of chips altogether by simply not scanning them when she used the supermarkets’ self checkout stations to pay for her other groceries. Nichols was convicted in 2024 for retail theft from a nearby Walmart. After her most recent arrest, she was released from jail after paying the $150 bond on the misdemeanor charge.

Kayaking Under the Influence

A 63 year old man from Canada’s Northwest Territories was charged with impaired operation of a vessel and refusal to provide a breath sample after being caught kayaking while drunk. In what the RCMP call a “bizarre incident,” the man allegedly stole a kayak and used a shovel to paddle around Lake Marion, the CBC reported on June 12. The kayak’s owner alerted the police and when they arrived, they found the man in the water, evi dently too intoxicated to make it to shore. They rescued him from the water, then promptly arrested him. “On the water, the risks are higher; conditions can change quickly, there’s limited equipment, and response times are often longer, which makes these incidents especial ly dangerous for both those involved and for emergency responders,” RCMP Cpl. Kevin Kim said.

Rude Awakening

A 62 year old man in Sarasota, Florida, had a rude awakening on June 9 when a Ford F 150 crashed into his bedroom, pinning him under the truck, Yahoo! News reported. The Florida Highway Patrol say the 54 year old driver, who ran a stop sign before leaving the road and ramming into a nearby home, was not impaired but likely distracted or asleep at the wheel. Neighbor Robert Bohn ran over when he heard the noise and only knew the man in the bedroom was still alive when he responded to Bohn. Emergency personnel were able to extract the man from under the truck, and he remains in the hospital. Charges are pending for the driver, who survived, and the investigation is ongoing. Oddly enough, Bohn says this is not the first time something like this has happened in the neighborhood—his own home has been hit before, and the victim had experi enced near misses in the past, leading him to install wooden posts in front of his house to try to act as a deterrent. The county even put up reflective warning signs in the neighborhood, which evidently failed to stop the driver. Bohn hopes the next step is for the coun try to construct physical barriers at the intersection.