City Weekly March 26, 2026

UTAH'S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

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The Pursuit of Happiness

The essence of meritocracy took root in Plato’s The Republic, establishing a norm in which achievements and success were tied to status and opportunity. Today, this system defines much of our society. Yet, beneath this quest for merit lies a conundrum: our human capacity to quantify true brilliance, the elements that set ordinary apart from extraordinary. Notably, while creativity and innovation are part of genius, science falters in quantifying their influence, despite the meritocracy eagerly claiming credit.

Beneath the veneer of meritocratic promise lies the true reality—a hedonic treadmill, fraught with the pitfalls of drawbacks and devoid of benefits. Throughout the nation, numerous adolescents, lured by meritocracy’s false pledges, unknowingly embark on pathways barren of predictable outcomes. Paradoxically, the very framework designed to propel accomplishment risks nurturing a generation that equates mere compliance with a perpetual entitlement to victory—more likely endowing kids with narcissism and entitlement than with success.

Likewise, those who dare to question meritocracy encounter their own struggles. Society all too often labels them as lethargic or dim-witted, relegating them unworthy of praise or recognition. Those who aren’t self medicated are prescribed medication to undermine and discourage their skepticism.

In both cases, the only strength of the meritocracy is to corrode the magic of adolescence, erasing key stages of development that allow kids to be kids.

Robbed of these rites of passage, a whole generation weathers the storms of expectations. Hopefully not being destroyed by narcissism, the crutches of medication, or their own self doubt.

As a society, we love a winner but cherish underdogs. Being LeBron or Kobe is fine. They are great athletes. They are famous. They make a lot of money. But they will never be Jackie Robinson.

Nor will any Green Jacket or Stanley Cup be as plainly breathtaking as the transcendent beauty of Einstein’s theory of relativity.

This is because deep down, we don’t want the meritocracy to win, we want to believe in the American dream; for anyone, anything is possible.

By acknowledging we cannot predict the success of people, we can change focus and prepare people for success by cultivating skills like curiosity, problem solving and empathy.

Instead of constantly measuring things that are not important, we can cultivate a sense of self-worth—rewarding kids who try different things and empowering

them with a perspective that guides them towards decisions that are of interest, not rooted in validation.

In theory this is simple. But the sirens of our society lure us with constant questions that challenge our sense of compassion and worth, beguiling us to cut each other down, pursue self gratification or approval or wield our power against those we deem as less or different.

The power of the meritocracy unravels under the truth that a person’s worth cannot be measured or predicted. So maybe, it’s time for a change.

Maybe we’ll get back to the American dream; a land which is richer, fuller and better for everyone. Maybe when more people have better opportunities, something great will happen.

BRENDAN RYAN Salt Lake City

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THE WATER COOLER

What’s something small that makes your day noticeably better?

Gavin Dahl

I intentionally do not make work emails accessible from my phone, preventing work from ruling my every waking second. Benefits include not checking work with my head on the pillow and never sending work emails from the toilet.

Eric Granato

Not being woken up by my cat at 4:30.

Zach Abend

When a sentence lands exactly right.

Scott Renshaw

I have a home recipe for a Tatooine Sunset, a beverage from Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. I keep a pitcher in the fridge and pour myself a tall cool glass of happiness.

Kayla Dreher

Seeing any sort of fuzzy friend. Dog, cat, cow, camel, etc.—even a reptilian or aquatic friend would do.

Wes Long

My Siamese flame point rescue kitty, Crumpet

Benjamin Wood

When the timing for a Trax train and the 9 Bus lines up just right.

OPINION

BY CHRISTOPHER SMART

ICE Gulag in SLC

So Wilson, did you hear about the backdoor deal that ICE made to buy a gigantic warehouse on Salt Lake City’s West Side to use as an immigrant detention center? Gov. Spencer Cox thinks it’s a splendid idea.

We need it, he said, because Joe Biden let all those illegal aliens in here. Damn that Biden.

Anyway, the warehouse deal was so far under the radar that none of Utah’s congressional delegation knew about it. Cox didn’t either, but he’s still happy we’re getting the 833,000 square foot warehouse, which set taxpayers back $145.4 million.

Various reports reveal abuse and neglect at these facilities—lack of medical care, shortages of food and water— as the Trump administration ramps up its mass deportations of murderers and rapists and carpenters and cooks and maids and professors and students.

There are some minor unintended consequences when reducing the workforce, like nobody to build houses or pick crops. But what can you do?

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall doesn’t like Trump’s gulag system.

“The mass detention of people inside a warehouse is inhumane and is contradictory to the function, values and desires of Salt Lakers,” she said, “and I will use every tool at the city’s disposal to stop it.” Stay tuned.

U.S. War Plans: Iran Would Not Close Strait of Hormuz Surprise! Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, where 20% of the world’s oil passes through on giant tankers.

What? Well, we didn’t expect that. Who could’ve guessed? Benchmark crude jumped from $70 a barrel to well over $100.

Well shucks, we didn’t expect that. As gasoline headed toward $4 a gallon, President Trump removed sanctions on Russian oil—at a time when its war with Ukraine had put its economy in a death spiral. Now, Vladimir Putin can rest easy.

Trump then lifted sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil that have already been shipped. Very strategic. And he released 172 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Reserve. That should fix things.

We consume some 20 million barrels each day, so that’ll last us ... eight or nine days. Brilliant.

China is impacted less than most nations. Half its new cars are electric, its grid is powered by domestic coal and it’s going gangbusters on wind and solar energy. Meanwhile, Trump has put the kibosh on renewables for his friends in the fossil fuels industry. When it comes to thinking things through, the Trump administration is next to none.

And another puzzling thing—why don’t our allies want to help us in Iran? Go figure.

Utah “Bachelorette” Toast After Nasty Video Leaks

Well Wilson, this is confusing. ABC just pulled the plug on the new season of The Bachelorette after learning that TikTok Mom and Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul pleaded guilty in abeyance to felony aggravated assault.

A little background: TikTok Moms struck gold with their Hulu reality show Secret Lives. Then it came out that Frankie Paul and husband Tate Paul were “soft swinging” (use your imagination) with other couples.

That led to divorce; enter boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. The pair had an on-again, off-again thing that came to blows—literally.

Late last year, Frankie Paul was selected to be TV’s The Bachelorette for its upcoming season, even though she has

three children—two from Tate and one from Mortensen. We know, Wilson, it’s getting pretty deep, but some people actually tune into this.

Mortensen didn’t dig that his squeeze (or ex-squeeze, who knows) was going to be the new Bachelorette. You can’t make this stuff up. It got even more weird when a video from 2023 surfaced, showing Frankie Paul assaulting Mortensen.

You’re right Wilson, it’s icky and banal. But it does provide a break from Trump’s war and the Epstein coverup. That’s how bad things are.

Postscript—That was the week here at Smart Bomb, where we keep track of the war in Iran so you don’t have to. Well actually, no one can keep track of the war, because the Trump administration says something different every day, and often more than once a day.

We’re going to bomb Iran’s electricity grid if they don’t open the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said. No we won’t, he said, because peace talks are going well. Except Iran says there are no talks.

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, quit, saying Trump’s war is a disaster. A veteran of the Iraq war, Kent said he couldn’t in good conscience support the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran.

Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, is out of commission after being ordered to the Middle East. For months, the 4,500 sailors aboard had suffered with a failed plumbing system that left restrooms out of order. Then a fire erupted in its laundry facility, seriously damaging the $13 billion vessel. It’s unclear whether it was sabotage. An investigation is underway. The war remains unpopular in this country as the price of oil and gasoline continues to surge. Other than that, things are going swimmingly well. CW

Private Eye is off this week. Christopher Smart writes the weekly Smart Bomb column, available at cityweekly.net. Send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net.

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE BIELE |

MISS: ICE Age

Despite Gov. Spencer Cox’s warm welcome to ICE in Utah, Salt Lakers are less than enthusiastic. The feds spent $145 million to buy a warehouse near the airport and claimed that it will be a financial boon to the economy. Of course, they offered no real evidence except for the gee-whiz factor of contract workers and jobs, no matter how short-lived. The Salt Lake Tribune did its own calculations following assertions that ICE will “bring 9,893 jobs to the area … contribute $1.1 billion to GDP … (and generate) more than $238.7 million in tax revenue.” Mayor Erin Mendenhall figures it will actually result in a $1 million loss in property taxes. That and the citizen anger over inhumane detentions have resulted in mass protests outside the facility. While the federal government is shut down over the issue, it appears that ICE continues its work around the country.

MISS: I, Robot

When in doubt, go to the source. AI answered the question “why does white house not want ai transparency” this way: “The White House seeks to avoid strict AI transparency and regulation, favoring a ‘light touch’ approach to promote American industry dominance, prevent fragmented state-level rules, and avoid ‘woke’ or ideological bias in AI models. The administration views strict transparency as a potential burden on innovation and prefers centralized federal guidelines over restrictive state laws.” All that may be true, but doesn’t really get to the heart of federal overreach. The White House recently reached out to Draper Republican Sen. Kirk Cullimore, although it was Riverton’s Rep. Doug Fiefia who sponsored this year’s big AI bill. Cullimore offered his own legislation, targeting the harm of ‘chatbots,’ but both bills failed to pass. Cullimore, however, did get a bill passed that seeks to protect real people’s identities. But the president, who continues to use alternate AI identities in political memes, must not be concerned about that.

HIT: Pet Projects

While lawmakers don’t seem too concerned with human well-being, animals may have a fighting chance. The Legislature passed SB201, which requires shelters to notify animal rescue groups before euthanasia takes place. Presently, the state requires a five-day waiting period before an animal is put down, and yet two to three animals are euthanized each day because of financial restraints, the Tribune reported. Best Friends Animal Society estimates that 1,000 animals could be saved if a rescue organization were to step in, but they need to be notified first. Some 20 rescue groups supported a bill to move Utah into the no-kill category and the state is fairly animal-friendly, decreasing the number of pets killed by 18% from 2023 to 2024. As of press time, SB201 still awaits Gov. Spencer Cox’s signature.

Carless and Carefree

In 2018, when we first moved into our condo in downtown Salt Lake City, I immediately began to wonder how soon it would be that my family could go carless. After all, my friends with children in cities like Chicago, New York and D.C. had pulled it off. Why not us?

However, with little storage space and a greater distance between our front door and the car (elevators, lobbies, a dozen parking stalls), our Subaru became a four-wheeled adventure backpack. In the summer, we’d store our camping supplies for spur-of-the-moment weekend trips. During the winter, the car would house all our ski gear for our mountain time. Lacking a house and yard to maintain, we were truly spending more time than ever outdoors.

But in terms of our daily car use— that all but disappeared. We were walking more often than not, and added bikes and scooters to the mix. My kiddos had learned to take Trax to places like the Clark Planetarium, the Huntsman Center and even Daybreak, to visit cousins. The calculus for keeping a car—and all the related expenses—was shifting.

Finally, in the summer of 2022, after a two-week-long road trip around the Mountain West, we decided that would be our last with the car. We were ready to go carless. And the experience that followed has changed our family forever.

First off, not having a car at the ready forced us to plan better. Visiting friends and events outside the reach of public transit often necessitates a buffer for walking or other last-mile options. It also forced us to be more conscious of our clothing and gear choices in the event that weather shifted on us during our travels. Additionally, not having a car brought generous neighbors out of the woodwork. Within our first year of going carless, we had five different high-rise neighbors offer up their also-mostly-unused cars to us.

This ended up being such a great arrangement that we reduced our Lyft/Uber usage to almost zero during our first year. Moreover, the coordination and communication on carsharing helped us grow even closer to our “rideshare” friends.

Lastly, the greatest benefit to our family in this decision has been the freedom and independence we’ve felt in not having to rely on a car to get us places. My kiddos are no longer dependent on me to drive them to events or friends’ houses. They are experiencing the world more on their own terms and timing.

When the time comes to travel the world or go off to college, I’m confident that my carless children will be ready to do so with the resourcefulness and street smarts to help them arrive safely. CW

Lake Effects

A new public art experience marks the latest presentation of Wake the Great Salt Lake.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

For a few years now, the potential existential crisis facing the Great Salt Lake has been part of policy conversations, conveyed in news broadcasts and generally a topic of considerable local attention. For two years, a joint project of the Salt Lake Arts Council, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge has been applying the skills of creative artists to that subject, with an exciting new project just the latest part of that effort.

On Friday, March 26, Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake debuts in Memory Grove for a short 10-day installation. The multimedia work—which incorporates light projections onto an elevated sphere and an original music composition incorporating the sounds of local animals that depend on the GSL habitat—marks a notable addition to the Wake the Great Salt Lake program, created in the aftermath of

winning a $1 million Bloomberg grant for temporary public art projects addressing important civic issues specific to their cities.

According to Salt Lake Arts Council executive director Felicia Baca, the emphasis throughout the project has been on involving local artists in creating projects ranging from gallery exhibitions and murals to theater productions and podcasts. And the thematic focus has always been on inviting people into conversation on this vital issue.

“Policy papers don’t really move hearts and minds; they can inform us, but it’s really art that can transform things,” Baca says. “For a lot of the general public, they don’t really go to the lake. It’s not always tangible. It’s important having something that draws a sense of curiosity. It’s a little bit about the beauty of the lake and the monumentality of the lake and its importance to us.”

Among the local participating artists was Kellie Bornhoft, a Weber State University assistant professor of art whose By a Thread installation launched in fall 2024 at Westminster University before a stop at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art in 2025. It involved a collaboration with scientists and use of open-source images to create illustrations of species dependent on the Great Salt Lake over transparent fabric, a tactile representation of these often-hidden creatures and their world.

“There’s a major assumption I think Utahns have that the lake is dead, but it’s actually teeming with life,” Bornhoft says.

The concept for By a Thread was in part inspired by a similar project Bornhoft had created for endangered species in the San Francisco Bay Area during her time as a resident there, as well as by her general interest in environmental themes in her art. “I think one of the problems with climate change is it’s hard to contextualize,” Bornhoft observes. “For me, in my art, that’s the curiosity I approach with. What does it actually mean that the world is warming, on an everyday scale? I’m curious how to make that tangible, how to have an embodied experience.”

While local artists like Bornhoft were indeed crucial to the vision for Wake the Great Salt Lake, Baca adds that they also had plans for bringing in an artist with an international profile—which is where Eliasson’s new work comes in. “[He’s] one of the top five artists in the world working in environmental issues specifically,” Baca notes. “We were thankful that he really saw this as worthy, an issue with global impact.”

Despite the fact that Eliasson and his team were working on A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake a continent away, Baca considers the work a successful collaboration.

“We do trust them to do what they do best, and executing what our vision is,” Baca says. “We’ve had the team out here for several visits, and it’s really been a hand-in-hand partnership.”

The result is a contemplative, approximately 40-minute piece that can be expe-

rienced from a variety of vantage points, and something that fits into the focus on optimism over despair that Baca wanted for all of the Wake the Great Salt Lake projects. “Really what we were hoping for, we wanted people to be able to imagine hopeful futures with this work of art, and something that was approachable for all ages,” she says.

“It’s an invitation that doesn’t create this sense of blame or defensiveness, but I hope inspires people toward a sense of collective action,” Baca continues. “The [Wake the Great Salt Lake] team has been meeting with scientists and lawyers and specialists and indigenous communities. We haven’t shied away from the despair that is there; we know that no salinated lakes that have been in decline have reversed. But I think the thing that really rose to the surface for me in this project is we forged so many amazing partnerships. Art is a very intersectional thing, and we all really have a role to play. We know art alone isn’t going to save the Great Salt Lake, but we’re part of a puzzle.” CW

Wake the Great Salt Lake: Olafur Eliasson’s A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake Memory Grove

300 N. Canyon Rd. March 26 – April 4 9 p.m. nightly Free, but reservation recommended wakegsl.org/events

theESSENTIALS

Complete listings online at cityweekly.net

Tetrascapes @ Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

It’s improvised yet highly rehearsed, spontaneous yet rooted in foundational practices of the craft, using the guidance of the moment to direct the next. It unfolds into an unpredictable yet interwoven coalescence of acrobatics, improvised music, film and choreography as one immersive experience. Bringing to life the current exhibit, Altered States in the Acid West currently showing at the Utah Museum Of Contemporary Art, Tetrascapes is a live, in-gallery performance that will take those pieces off the wall and hang them from aerial ribbons. The multidisciplinary experience will bring viewers into altered states themselves, using improvised music, film and live performance art to respond to the gestures and surrounding environment in real time, producing a new, one-night exhibition.  From their diverse range of formal music backgrounds, the Gillet Trio—comprised of Briana Gillet, Nora Price and Carina Gillet—will be improvising their set to create an auditory experience that responds to the environment found within the building. Time being the grounding piece to fall back on, the three musicians will elicit a frenetic environment, weaving film and choreography and acrobatics together to bring the “acid western” off the canvas and into a lived reality unfolding in real time. It promises to be an experience unreplicable beyond the evening and those gallery walls. Tetrascapes is a one-night performance on Friday, March 27 from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. held at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (20 S. West Temple). Tickets are $20; visit utahmoca.org/event/tetrascapes for tickets and additional information. (Genevieve Vahl)

Hive Kind Coalition

Equinox Dinner

Winter has felt fleeting this year in the Salt Lake valley, regardless of the month. Yet spring is finally upon us, the equinox surely approaching. On March 20, the sun finally crossed back over the equator from south to north for us northern hemisphere dwellers, where both hemispheres are equally tilted towards the sun to receive equal amounts of daylight. With more sunlight to grace our northern days from now on, the Hive Kind Coalition is gathering folks around the table to break bread together (donated by Leavity) in celebration of the Spring Equinox to benefit Save Our Great Salt Lake. “Equinox represents balance, let’s give the gift of balance to one another over a shared dinner table,” reads the organization’s website.

The evening will gather people over a five-course meal prepared by Soul Haus Kitchen, using local ingredients and seasonal menu offerings. Guests are encouraged to bring a gift to share in the gift pool, almost like a spring white elephant. Music will grace the space from Melissa Chillinski and her trio, The Pearly Blue Band. All net proceeds from this evening will go to benefit the local organization Save Our Great Salt Lake, recognizing our city’s namesake as a living entity with rights to live, thrive and be restored by advocating for transitioning our failing agricultural system into one that honors bioregional limits and prioritizes resilient local food systems.

The dinner will be hosted by The Urban Arts Gallery at The Gateway (116 S. Rio Grande St.) on Friday, March 27 from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. The $40 admission covers the cost of the dinner, with additional donations encouraged to benefit SOGSL. Tickets can be purchased at thehivekind.co. (GV)

MON-SAT: 10AM - 8PM SUNDAY: 11AM - 6PM 801-833-2272

MON-SAT: 11AM - 8PM SUNDAY: 11AM - 6PM 385-432-3600

Millcreek Doxie Derby

Dachshunds, doxies, wiener dogs—whatever nomenclature you prefer for these distinctivelyshaped fur babies, it’s a delight to watch them cavort. And if you think watching them walk is entertaining, just imagine what it’s like to watch them run. You need not imagine it, however, as Millcreek Common hosts its third annual Doxie Derby, where a 75-foot track hosts more than 200 dachshunds—the third largest such annual event running in the country, according to official governing body National Wiener Racing Association—for a wiener-take-all racing spectacle.

As emceed by local treasure “Bad” Brad Wheeler, the centerpiece race itself and the preliminary “senior division” race are only part of the event’s fun. Visitors can enjoy fittingly-themed food vendors including World’s Best Corn Dogs, Nana’s Sonoran Hot Dogs and Mo’s Chicano Dogs, along with beers from Fisher Brewing. A pet-themed vendor market offers plenty of goodies to get for your own fourlegged companions, pet-appropriate activities, doggie tattoos, photo opportunities and more. According to Aimee McConkie, Millcreek Community Life Director, “Millcreek’s Doxie Derby is an annual tradition at Millcreek where we get the chance to celebrate the beloved pets in our community.”

The 2026 Millcreek Doxie Derby takes place at Millcreek Common (3300 S. between Highland Dr. and 1300 East) on Saturday, March 28, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., with racing beginning at 4 p.m. Spectator tickets are $5. A free “yappy hour” “pre-pawty” on Friday, March 27, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. invites potential participants to test the track and enjoy food and beverage offerings. Visit millcreekcommon.org for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

April 2026 Special Screenings

Jurassic Park trilogy; Comedic Relief; The Shepherd and the Bear ; Mi América and more.

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

The Dells @ Utah Film Center: The subject of immigration and cheap labor in America gets a unique perspective in director Nellie Kluz’s 2024 documentary The Dells, profiling newly-arrived international students on “J-1” visas spending the summer working at a Wisconsin water park. The screening takes place at the Utah Film Center (375 W. 400 North) on Wednesday, April 1 @ 7 p.m., as part of the Center’s “Black, Bold & Brilliant” programming, and will be followed by a moderated Zoom Q&A with the filmmaker. Tickets are free, but reservation is recommended at utahfilmcenter.org

Comedic Relief at Salt Lake Film Society: Heaven knows we all need a laugh in this world right now, and in April, weekends at the Broadway Centre Cinemas (111 E. 300 South) will turn into mini-festivals of comedy classics. The lineup includes Harold & Maude (1971) and When Harry Met Sally (1989), April 3 – 4; Beetlejuice (1988) and The Princess Bride (1987), April 10 – 11; Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Waiting for Guffman (1997), April 17 -18; and Clueless (1995) and Wayne’s World (1992), April 24 – 25. Individual screening tickets are $13.75 at slfs.org.

Best of Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competi-

Center’s annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival provides a showcase for wonderful films for children; under the umbrella of that program, they also help recognize wonderful films by children. Recent winners of the Tumbleweeds Kids Film Competition get a showcase in a 60-minute program of short films, with animation and live-action created by K-8 filmmakers, followed by a hands-on activity to introduce young audience members to how to make a movie of their own. The screening takes place at the Utah Film Center (375 W. 400 North) on Saturday, April 11 @ 10 a.m. While the screening is free to the public, RSVP is recommended at utahfilmcenter.org

Mi América: A Journey of Discovery @ Brewvies: In 2021, City Weekly covered the story of how activist, teacher and public servant Manuel Romero combined his own family history with a larger picture of how the mix of Spanish and Indian cultures shaped what was eventually to become the American Southwest, in the book Mi América: The Evolution of an American Family. Five years later, Romero has turned his story into a feature documentary that

similarly explores how his personal genealogical quest turned into an exploration of identity over the course of centuries, and into the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Mi América comes to Brewvies (677 S. 200 West) for a screening on Sunday, April 12 @ 7 p.m. brewvies.com

The Emperor’s New Groove @ Peery’s Egyptian Theatre, Ogden: It has one of the strangest creative back-stories of any Disney animated feature, a planned fullon musical with original songs by Sting that was scrapped several years into production to become an anarchic, Looney Toons-style comedy. The result, however, is beloved by its fans in following the journey of selfish emperor Kuzco (David Spade) with peasant Pacha (John Goodman) to break a spell that has turned the former into a llama. The screening at Peery’s Egyptian Theatre (2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden) takes place Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m.; tickets are $10 at ogdenpet.com.

The Shepherd and the Bear @ Utah Film Center: Max Keegan’s 2024 documentary follows an aging shepherd in the French

Pyrenees whose flock is impacted by the reintroduction of brown bears into his community, in a story with resonance to similar issues related to wolf populations in the American West. This screening also marks the launch of City Weekly’s “Salt Lake Cinephile” initiative, with a postfilm conversation moderated by yours truly. Admission is free, with reservation recommended at utahfilmcenter.org.

Jurassic Rewind @ Megaplex Theatres: If you’re old enough to remember Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park as a theatrical experience, it’s hard to forget the way it worked as a big-screen blockbuster. Megaplex Theatres gives you a chance to return to the original trilogy, before there was a Jurassic World: 1993’s Jurassic Park, 1997’s Jurassic Park: The Lost World and 2001’s Jurassic Park III. The three films are available individually April 17 – 23 as part of the $5 Reel Deals, or in one “mega-marathon” of all three films on April 18 or April 19 beginning at 11 a.m., with tickets $49.99 or $119.98 for all three films depending on concessions package preference. Visit megaplex.com. CW

Lost in Translation

Plan to reimagine Downtown Salt Lake City leaves Japantown in the lurch, again.

BY GRACE X. MAYA comments@cityweekly.net

Just west of Downtown Salt Lake City, a oneblock section of 100 South bears the honorary name, “Japantown.”

At its height, it was the center of a selfsufficient neighborhood of Japanese Utahns— with hotels, convenience stores and its own local newspapers. But the community’s legacy is now guarded by just two remaining buildings, The Japanese Church of Christ (JCC) and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple (SLBT).

It wasn’t waning church membership, or lack of community interest that fueled Japantown’s downsizing. It was redevelopment.

Large swaths of the neighborhood were previously removed to make way for the current Delta Center and Salt Palace Convention Center. And that history is poised to repeat itself as new plans for a consolidated sports, entertainment and convention center district encroach upon the remnants of historic Japantown.

Concerns around Japantown’s legacy led Marisa Eng to cofound Utah Japantown Advocates. She can trace her family back to the early 1900s, when her greatgrandparents farmed and sold produce in Japantown. “I grew up attending the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, and a lot of my friends went to JCC,” Eng recalled. “When everything came out about the Capital City Revitalization Zone, we decided we needed to organize and see what we can do to make sure our community isn’t impacted.”

Community leaders continue to worry that plans for new hotel and apartment construction will not only dwarf what’s left of Japantown, but create multi-year headaches around access. But despite this, members of the church and temple look toward the future with a cautious hope.

After decades of shrinking, the new construction may offer the opportunity to reinvigorate the street into something worthy of its century-long heritage. “Preserving means being able to share our history and culture with others,” Eng said. “Revitalizing means we can grow with the city and make sure we’re a destination people want to visit.”

In multiple interviews with City Weekly The Japanese Church of Christ and Salt Lake Buddhist Temple shared dozens of documents, models and testimonials to explain the impact of the nearby renovations on their community and offer insight into what a revitalized Japantown would mean for Salt Lake City.

Crowded Out

Outside of the Japanese-American community, Japantown is perhaps best known for their spring Nihon Matsuri and summer Obon festivals.

It’s a long-held tradition for Japanese-Americans like Lynne Ward, an elder at the Japanese Church of Christ. A lifelong church member, she can spot herself in pictures of Obon dating back to the 1960s.

“My grandma, who was issei [first generation Japanese immigrant] made many of the kimonos,” Ward said. “I’m not sure I appreciated all the work she did at the time. The kimonos were adjustable, so they can be worn as a girl grows. Eventually, like in our family, they were passed down to the younger cousins.”

The events draw thousands of attendees to the block, where community members grill hundreds of pounds of chicken, sell souvenirs and lead visitors in the bon odori dance.

While plans for this summer’s 90th Obon—aimed for Saturday, July 11—are still coming together, the area is hardly recognizable most days.

Garbage trucks and semitrucks regularly cluster the narrow road. And in the lead-up to events like Salt Lake City’s recent Winter Roundup skijoring demonstration, the street is used as a staging area to store equipment and park vehicles, inhibiting access to the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.

On game days for the Jazz and Mammoth, fans frequently attempt to illegally park in the Japanese Church of Christ’s lot. And legal carveouts for the Delta Center allow for the sale of alcohol, despite proximity to the two church properties.

“Both churches are commuter churches,” Ward said. “People are coming to our church from as far north as Layton and as far south as South Jordan. To get into this area so impacted by dump trucks and cranes and concrete will be extremely challenging.”

Things are almost certain to get worse in the upcoming years with “RE:IMAGINE Downtown,” a collective revitalization effort spearheaded by SLC’s

Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) and Smith Entertainment Group (SEG). Plans include Delta Center renovations, a partial demolition of the convention center and a proposed, 6,000-seat venue.

SEG also hopes to build a hotel near the SLBT, as well as a tall apartment building directly next door to the church.

Any permutation of the ambitious designs will undoubtedly put pressure on Japantown, according to Temple board member Rolen Yoshinaga.

“So far, our conversations with SEG, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City have been positive, but I expect there will be unavoidable disruptions involving traffic patterns in the area,” Yoshinaga said. “My worry is that some entity will use 100 South as a staging area for construction materials, waste or equipment, thus blocking the street.”

Members of JCC and SLBT walked City Weekly around their properties. Salt Lake County currently maintains a small garden next to JCC, likely to be shrouded by renovations. And under current plans, new neighboring buildings would tower hundreds of feet above the mostly single-story Japantown. Under recent rezones, the hotels and apartments could reach as high as 375 feet, with helicopter pads.

Ryan Smith, chairman of Smith Entertainment Group, has shared images of multi-story digital billboards and a massive apartment building where the century-old church currently stands. In those renderings, a pedestrian walkway lined with bars neighbors both JCC and SLBT. And the Salt Lake City Council has approved an exception to their downtown ordinances to allow for a multi-story parking garage.

But Yoshinaga also emphasized how an increased residential presence in the area can be a benefit. The current built environment offers little incentive for foot traffic, and the Delta Center plans would produce what Japantown has lacked for years—people.

“One of the things that made the old Japantown successful was the fact that so many people of Japa-

“Revitalizing means we can grow with the city.” —Marisa Eng,

nese ancestry lived within a few blocks of the street,” Yoshinaga said. “It also comes with some costs, such as increased litter and pet droppings left on the street. But in total, having more residents who have an interest in living in a vibrant cultural hub will improve the street.”

The Waiting Game

For Eng, the hardest part is the unknown. Smith Entertainment Group is a willing, but nebulous, partner. While the community is open to the goals of the project, it’s unclear what’s to come.

“They’re usually willing to meet with us. They’ve visited the two churches,” Eng said. “We just haven’t had as much sharing as we’ve hoped. It’s been a little hard when we don’t really know what the plans are yet for SEG. We haven’t been shown anything concrete.”

All renovations are intended to be completed in advance of the 2034 Olympics, as the Delta Center and Salt Palace are slated to host figure skating, curling and other events.

Renderings show an electric nightlife with packed Jazz games and massive concerts, supported by a 0.5% increase to the citywide sales tax.

“Smith Entertainment Group is continuing to work closely with its architects and engineers as well as Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County on the various elements of the Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention District,” a representative from SEG said. “SEG is also in regular communication with neighbors to the property and is excited to create a development that benefits residents and visitors alike, ensuring a vibrant, connected, and thriving core for downtown Salt Lake City.”

And yet, beyond the Delta Center’s new parking garage, little progress on the convention center district has been made. Japantown also awaits city-led renovations of its own.

“My primary concern is that the construction will negatively affect the ability for Salt Lake City to continue development of the streetscape project,” Yoshinaga related.

Part of the city’s support for the Delta Center project hinges on a Japantown renovation that preserves and builds upon its historic elements. Early sketches from GSBS architects shows a Sakura tree-lined pedestrian promenade featuring Japanese sculptures and art.

The Salt Lake Community Reinvestment agency indicated they may be able to begin planting trees and painting murals this spring. But more ambitious elements, namely the leveling and reconstruction of the streetscape itself, remain in flux.

“The GSBS [plan] would go a long way to beautifying Japantown and giving it respect,” Ward said.

“The question mark will be the [private] development surrounding us and the functionality of these two churches. Those are unknown because SEG hasn’t divulged their plans.”

The CRA echoed these sentiments, and confirmed that its Japantown work remains in the design phase.

“A full construction timeline is still to be determined as we finalize design details and continue coordinating with the broader infrastructure and extensive development work underway in the area,” said Tauni Barker, a CRA spokesperson. “Given the cultural significance of Japantown, we want to move forward thoughtfully and in a way that reflects longterm stewardship rather than short-term fixes.”

A Century of Nihonmachi

The Japanese Church of Christ unearthed a 100-yearold time capsule in November, the box welded into the building’s foundation. Pictures, Japanese-language newspaper pages and a hand-sewn Japanese flag revealed the community’s vibrancy and commitment to endurance.

In the hundred years since, the church has seen members threatened by internment camps, accepted diasporic Japanese-Americans from California—forcibly resettled after WWII’s Executive Order 9066— and supported members facing housing and labor discrimination into the 1960s.

The original Buddhist temple was built in the 1920s. On weekdays, the temple hosts a local boy scout troop, runs a weekly meal delivery service and offers meditation classes.

More importantly, it’s the final resting place for the ashes of first-, second- and third-generation Japanese-American immigrants.

In the early 1900s, the Salt Lake Memorial Mausoleum removed the ashes of Japanese-Americans and sent them to the temple. Members were tasked with tracking down distant family members back in Japan, but after years of searching, many still rest at the temple.

More recently, Yoshinaga said the temple continues to accept ashes from members that have passed in the last two years.

To him and many other temple attendees, SLBT is not simply a place of worship, but a vital aspect of cultural preservation.

Ward felt the religious significance of the street will ensure its survival. “I’m hopeful that Japantown can thrive and survive the surrounding development,” she said. “There are a lot of people aware of what’s going on with this development and also have an interest in revitalizing Japantown, not just the Japanese-American community.”

Eng said she wants people to know that Japantown has been here for years, and it has no intention of going away.

“It’s not going anywhere,” Eng stressed. “Come to Obon! See what it’s all about. The more people that can experience it, the more people who can advocate for Japantown.” CW

Cottagecore

Trolley Cottage Cafe brings Classic French Flavors to the Trolley Square area.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

ITALIAN ITALIAN VILLAGE

For decades, Trolley Square has been an iconic bit of downtown Salt Lake City real estate. From its historic water tower that presides over the block to its slate of unique local businesses, this shopping center is positioned on one of the most quintessentially Salt Lake street corners in the city.

Just across the road from Trolley Square is Trolley Cottage Cafe, which is one of the best spots from which to fully appreciate said street corner. This cozy little restaurant sports a spacious cobblestone patio and a European-inspired menu, both of which combine to create a perfect spot for a downtown meal.

Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, Trolley Cottage Cafe takes full advantage of its proximity to one of downtown’s finest local hangouts. During the day, the restaurant’s menu of classics like eggs benedict ($16), buttermilk pancakes ($14) and a wide range of sandwiches and salads makes it a nice spot for a lunchtime pick-me-up. The restaurant’s dinner menu includes decently-priced steak frites ($28) along with some classic pasta dishes like salmon piccata ($23) and meatball spaghetti ($22). The restaurant also has a full liquor license, so wine, beer and mimosas are also available.

I visited just before last week’s recordbreaking heatwave hit, so my wife and I passed through the patio on our way in-

side. Having partaken of my fair share of patio dining, I can say that something like this in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City is an absolute treasure. It’s a walledoff courtyard that makes tremendous use of its existing space. Watching the Trolley Square traffic live and breathe around you while sipping mimosas and nibbling on homemade pancakes is going to be a must for the spring and summer months.

Gorgeous patio aside, the inside of Trolley Cottage Cafe is absolutely adorable. We sat at one of the larger woodplank communal tables at the back of the restaurant, which imparted some rustic, countryside vibes to the experience. My wife went with the croque madame ($15) from the brunch menu, and I ordered the grilled chicken and baked brie sandwich ($16) from the lunch side. Both dishes demonstrated a proper reverence toward the bread involved, which I think is a good foundation for the cottage concept that is on display.

The croque madame is a fine representation of this classic dish that combines a grilled cheese sandwich with biscuits and gravy as only the French can. The dish arrives overflowing with melted gruyere cheese and thinly sliced ham. The gruyere and the bechamel combine to form the rich texture and savory flavors that make a croque madame such a brunchtime legend. The fried egg on top is cooked to perfection, and letting the yolk work its luxurious path across the melty sandwich ties the dish together nicely. Nothing quite screams brunch like a gooey croque madame slathered in egg yolk, and this is definitely a highlight of Trolley Cottage Cafe’s pre-dinner menu.

As enamored as I was with the croque madame, I thought the grilled chicken and baked brie sandwich struggled just a tad. The toasted ciabatta was excellent— it’s light, crispy and sporting an almost fry-bread textural experience. The pesto,

arugula and tomato were also fresh and flavorful, but I thought the grilled chicken was a bit overdone, to the point of becoming chewy. It was also very lightly seasoned, which didn’t really leave it much room to assert itself over the herbaceous flavors of the pesto and arugula. I also noticed a pronounced shortage of baked brie. Where I figured the sandwich would be oozing with brie in the same way the croque madame oozed with gruyere, the experience came a bit short of my expectations. It wasn’t a bad sandwich by any stretch, and it is a great lunch option for those after something a bit lighter.

The fries that accompanied the sandwich were excellent—perfectly crispy and tossed in plenty of herbs and salt. The plate also comes with a good-sized portion of them, so there’s a slim chance that you’ll walk away from this plate hungry.

Trolley Cottage Cafe is working with a great menu, but I think expanding the dessert menu to include some classic French pastries for the breakfast and lunchtime crowds would be a win. The ability to pop in for some coffee and a pastry would really mesh with the restaurant’s cozy cafe aesthetics.

Based on my overall experience, I think Trolley Cottage Cafe is at its best when it works within the classic French cookbook. These dishes demonstrate a true affection for the francophile staples of melty cheese, fresh butter and classic techniques. Luckily, there are plenty of these items on the menu, regardless of when you pay this restaurant a visit. Ordering up a heaping plate of pain perdu ($16) with its Grand Marnier butter sauce while enjoying the Trolley Square crowd is going to be a lovely way to spend a few hours of your time. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: Irish Porter

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: White Out - White Stout

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

Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer

On Tap: Pie Hole - Strawberry Rhubarb Tart Ale

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: Paradise Lost - dry hopped rice lager

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: Tropical Chasing Ghosts IPA

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey EttaPlaceCider.com

On Tap: All-American Blend Cider, MangoHabanero 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, UT hebervalleybrewing.com

On Tap: 3 C’s Pale Ale 5.0% ABV

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

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

On Tap: Hopkins Lager

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, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Vienna Lager

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

On Tap: El Santo Mexican 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: SpringThyme (Apricot Thyme 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: Bob’s Irish Stout on Nitro

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

On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner

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

On Tap: Orange you Glad (Hazy pale ale)

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

On Tap: Orange you Glad (Hazy pale ale)

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: Dunkel Dan

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com On Draft: Oenobeer

Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com On Tap: OPEN ROAD SERIES #3 - Barrel

BEER NERD

Power Moves

Subtleties are out where these IPAs are concerned.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Offset - Krushing on Thora: The “Krushing On” series from Offset Bier is an ongoing lineup of hop-focused West Coast IPAs built around one of the hottest new hops, Krush Each release pairs Krush with a different companion hop in a roughly 50/50 blend, allowing Offset’s brewers to explore how the hop’s floral, citrusy and slightly woody characteristics interact with other varieties. This version pairs with another new hop called Thora.

The aroma opens with a dusty hop character that immediately sets the tone. It’s not the bright, fruit-bomb blast some modern IPAs lean on, but rather something more nuanced and textured. Citrus notes drift upward first—think soft orange peel and a hint of lemon zest—before giving way to an unexpected herbal spice. There’s a curious quality in the mix that feels almost mint-adjacent, though not quite mint itself. It’s more like the cool suggestion of it, a subtle freshness that keeps one leaning back in for another sniff.

As the beer opens up, additional layers begin to reveal themselves. Notes of stone fruit emerge, bringing impressions of peach skin and perhaps a bit of apricot. A touch of melon floats through the background, adding softness and rounding out the brighter citrus tones.

On the palate, the beer keeps things crisp and focused. It’s firmly dry, allowing the hops to shine without any lingering sweetness weighing things down. The hopping is assertive but never aggressive, delivering plenty of flavor while maintaining remarkable drinkability. Each sip resets the palate, inviting another almost immediately. And that’s really the magic here: Despite its complexity, the 6.3 percent beer is absolutely krushable. The finish is clean, the hop character remains lively and the overall structure feels dialed-in from start to finish.

Verdict: Simply put, this is brilliantly-made beer, a thoughtful expression of hops executed with precision and restraint. If this release is any indication, the series continues to be something special—and one worth following closely.

Uinta - Barrel Aged Detour: There are gentle ways to begin a day of beer research … and then there are days like this. Cracking into a 10-percent double IPA certainly falls into the latter category. But when that beer has also spent time resting in gin barrels from Beehive Distilling, you know you’re in for something that refuses to whisper.

From the first pour, you can tell it’s

a beast. The hop character jumps out, bringing a thick wave of chewy grapefruit rind that clings to the palate. It’s the kind of citrus bitterness that leans pithy rather than juicy, delivering a textured bite that hop-lovers will appreciate. Classic pine notes follow closely behind, reinforcing the beer’s bold backbone and adding a resinous depth that feels right at home in a Double IPA of this strength.

Underneath the hop intensity lies a sturdy malt base that helps hold everything together. There’s a noticeable caramel sweetness running through the middle of the beer, providing just enough balance to keep the bitterness from tipping too far into harsh territory. The malt character adds body as well, giving the beer a satisfying chewiness that matches its big personality.

Then the barrel influence steps in— and it’s unmistakable. The gin character is clearly present, weaving bright juniper and layered botanical notes into the already complex hop profile. Rather than feeling like an afterthought, the barrel treatment integrates surprisingly well with the beer’s piney, citrus-forward hops, creating a flavor combination that feels both intense and oddly harmonious. The finish lingers long after the sip is gone. Hops, juniper and warming alcohol slowly fade together, leaving behind a noticeable booziness that reminds you this beer means business. Verdict: This is not a casual sipper, nor is it designed for the faint of heart. It’s bold, brash, and unapologetically big—a gin barrel-aged Double IPA that proudly declares itself not for the meek. As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

La Casa Del Tamal Expands To Post District

I’ve been a fan of La Casa Del Tamal (lacasadeltamalutah.com) in West Valley ever since I first tried the restaurant’s huitlacoche quesadillas, and seeing this local, upscale Mexican restaurant expand to the Post District in downtown SLC is awesome. The Post District is home to some of Utah’s best restaurants, and La Casa Del Tamal’s menu of famous birria, tamales and enormous molcajete will infuse the area with a welcome dose of classic Mexican fare. As part of its Downtown expansion, La Casa Del Tamal has a few downtown exclusive specials like an ahi tuna ceviche, ribeye steak and fire-grilled octopus.

Tiramisu and Gelato Class At PCCI

Park City Culinary Institute (parkcityculinaryinstitute.com) has been hosting a tiramisu- and gelato-making class throughout the month, and the event is quickly coming to a close. The class walks beginners through the espresso, chocolate and mascarpone tag team that is tiramisu, and teaches students how to make a gelato base. The team at PCCI always puts together excellent cooking classes that are designed for curious newbies and veterans alike; the point is to learn a new skill while meeting a class of like-minded locals. The final round of classes will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The evening classes are held at 6 p.m., and the final two will be on March 26 and April 23.

Gossip Kitchen Opens

Ever since I first tried the itameshi concept of Japanese-Italian fusion at Junah, my ears seem to burn whenever something in the same ballpark comes around. Most recently, I’ve heard that a spot called Gossip Kitchen (gossipkitchenutah.com) took over the downtown spot that previously belonged to Laziz Kitchen. The website touts the concept as “contemporary Italian elegance” blending with “the mystery of a Japanese speakeasy,” and I can’t remember the last time I heard so many of my favorite words in one sentence. The menu looks to have both Japanese and Italian tapas along with a beer, wine and cocktail menu to match. Color me intrigued.

Quote of the Week: “Gastronomy is the art of using food to create happiness.” – Theodore Zeldin

Ladies’ Fight

A meeting of the Women in Music Utah chapter shares stories of mutual support.

BY ARICA ROBERTS comments@cityweekly.net

I

n anticipation for International Women’s Day, the Women in Music Utah chapter hosted a launch party at the downtown Asher Adams Hotel with live performances at The Depot afterwards on Saturday, March 7. The event included a panel discussion hosted by Vice Chair of Events Sindee Savage and featured women working in the Salt Lake City music industry including Madi Mekkelson (Marketing Manager and Art & Photography for LNE Presents); Colette Hanley (Talent Buyer for Live Nation); Riley Bode (Marketing Coordinator & Ticketing for S&S Presents); Merinda Starnes (Programming, Partnerships & Activations Manager at Asher Adams Hotel); and Detzany (singer, songwriter and model).

While Women in Music (WIM) was founded in New York City in 1985, the Women in Music Utah chapter was started just last year. According to their website, WIM “is dedicated to fostering equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of women.” The panelists shared their experiences in their various roles of the local music ecosystem including talent-buying, marketing, ticketing, venue programming and as independent artists. Each shared the challenges they faced in their careers, such as dealing with show cancellations, financial pressures and logistical issues, emphasizing the critical importance of community, networking and mutual support within the tight-knit Salt Lake scene.

For example, Hanley told of a time last

year when she had to cancel a show. “I was determined to not cancel it. It was not canceling in my brain. Like this show is going to happen, no matter where. It could happen in my backyard, but like, it was going to happen,” she shared.

As the talent buyer for Live Nation, Hanley is responsible for booking shows at venues like The Depot and Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, a job that involves negotiating with artists; coordinating with marketing, ticketing, and production teams; and managing the show from booking to settlement. As a wearer of many hats, how did Hanley handle the situation?

“I called every single one of the promoters in Salt Lake City, and thank God we have one of the best music industries on the planet, and every single one of those promoters from S&S to LNE to Mutiny to AEG, I had them on the phone,” Hanley recalled. Throughout the day, each of the collectives helped Hanley to brainstorm, and called her throughout the day to check in how she was doing. Her main point was that it’s okay to reach out for help.

“As women, that’s a thing that sometimes we struggle with,” she added. “It doesn’t say anything about you, but you need help. If anything, thank God you have a really beautiful community that’s got your back, no matter what the circumstances are.”

As each woman on the panel shared their experiences, the room felt like a safe place full of warmth and collaboration. The panelists all offered practical, tangible advice for audience members aspiring to a career in music, encouraging them to take action, believe in themselves and lean on their community.

Mekkelson, the marketing professional for LNE Presents, oversees multiple venues like Sky SLC, and festivals like Reggae Rise Up. Her responsibilities include social media, email marketing, street team coordination and constant communication with artist teams. Mekkelson shared how her perspective of the music industry

MUSIC

changed when a colleague told her, “‘It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. … And I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s such a genius quote, because if someone knows your skillset and your skills, just keep working at it ... you never know, it might get you into a music industry job.’”

Bode of S&S Presents agrees. When she was booking small Salt Lake bands at her small venue in Idaho, they encouraged her to move and email her then-future boss, leading to her current job, hybrid marketing and ticketing for the company behind Kilby Court and the Kilby Block Party festival. Her work resides at the intersection of promoters, artists, venues and fans, focusing on connecting audiences with shows and providing data to help artists route their tours.

While it can seem daunting to make that first move, the panelists pushed those interested in working within the music in-

dustry to go to local shows, ask to be on a guestlist, reach out to artists directly for the purposes of photographing them or to reach out to promoters with questions about how to get involved. This might take volunteer work at first, but as Hanley explained, “If you’re being invited into that room, you belong in that room.”

Women in Music chapters around the world offer mentorship opportunities, including coaching on relevant topics such as music, business and communication skills. The Utah chapter will be planning more local events for women working in (or interested in working in) the local music industry, creating safe spaces for networking with the collective goal of achieving equity and belonging for all. CW

FOLLOW ALONG AT app.glueup.com/org/wimutah/events, womeninmusic.org/utah

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MUSIC PICK S

Red Hot Chilli Pipers @ Egyptian Theatre 3/27-29

It’s hard to imagine that the sound of bagpipes and bodhrans translate to the world of pop and rock. So credit the Red Hot Chilli Pipers in coming up with the concept of “Bagrock,” wherein timeless rock anthems find a common connection with the traditional sounds of Scotland’s glens and highlands. Their idea was to produce a contemporary twist on Scottish music by combining rock sounds with those gleaned from tradition. Ever since their formation in 2002, Red Hot Chilli Pipers (not to be confused with the rock outfit Red Hot Chili Peppers) have become something of a global phenomenon. The nine-piece ensemble have displayed their ability to procure a synthesis of sound courtesy of concerts performed throughout the world. With four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama shared within their ranks, and a top prize win on the primetime TV British talent show When Will I Be Famous, the group’s passion for pipes has certainly been well-served. In the process, they’ve managed to fuse traditional pipe tunes like “The Flowers of Scotland,” “The Hills of Argyll” and “Amazing Grace” with such charttopping hits as Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” “Clocks” by Coldplay, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, “Let Me Entertain You” by Robbie Williams and a medley featuring Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” Indeed, the pipes, the pipes are calling. The Red Hot Chilli Pipers perform at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29. The show starts at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $45-$50 at tickets.egyptiantheatrecompany.org. (Lee Zimmerman)

WEEKLY LINEUP

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MUSIC PICK S

Big Gigantic @ The Marquis 3/28

For more than 20 years, the Colorado electronic funk duo Big Gigantic has been producing music and sharing it with the world. Saxophonist and producer Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken are pioneers in blending their respective instruments with DJ production, making music that’s a mix of funk, jazz, hip-hop and bass. From their first studio album in 2009 (Fire It Up) to their latest album (2025’s Fluorescence), they’ve had a long career creating a legacy of soulful sounds. Fluorescence starts off with the singles “Move Around” and “Free Spirits” featuring the singer ALIGN, then keeps the feel-good vibes going throughout. Big Gigantic described the album to music blog Electric Hawk as “all fun, light and positivity—a celebration of the boundless energy that makes dance music and festival culture feel so alive.” Since they take inspiration from everything from old-school hip-hop to The Beatles, it’s an extra treat to have a live show with instruments where funky beats take center stage. You don’t want to miss their high-energy performance along with supporting artists Champagne Drip and Sauci. Proceeds from ticket sales go to their A Big Gigantic Difference Foundation, which has raised more than $1 million for at-risk youth, music education and community programs. Doors open at 9 p.m. at The Marquis in Park City on Saturday, March 28. This is a 21+ show and tickets cost $59.65. Tickets day-of will cost $72.33. Go to eventliveus.com. (Arica Roberts)

MUSIC PICK S

Lamb of God

@ Union Event Center 3/28

Formed in Richmond, Virginia, heavy metal band Lamb of God is most certainly not a religiously-themed group. Instead, the group fronted by vocalist Randy Blythe trades in a hard-charging brand of music that draws from groove and thrash substyles. Coming to the forefront of metal’s early 2000s resurgence, Lamb of God earned their first gold record with 2004’s Ashes of the Wake. The group has racked up numerous accolades for their work, including recognition by the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, the Metalstorm Awards, Revolver Magazine Awards and no fewer than five Grammy nominations. Over the decades, Lamb of God has maintained a stable lineup: Blythe, lead guitarist Mark Morton, rhythm guitarist Willie Adler and bassist John Campbell have all been with the group since 2001; drummer Art Cruz joined in 2020. The group was the subject of a well-received 2014 documentary film As the Palaces Burn. Lamb of God released their 10th studio album, Into Oblivion, in March 2026. The group comes to the Union Event Center on Sunday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. With support acts Kublai Khan TX, Fit for an Autopsy and Sanguisugabogg, tickets for this all-ages show are $85.10 from ticketmaster.com. (Bill Kopp)

Curren$y

@ Ibiza SLC Ultra Lounge 3/29

Some might pigeonhole “Lifestyle Rap” as party music designed to stick in your head for a couple of weeks and then seep out again. Others might credit Curren$y as the “Godfather” of this hip-hop subgenre. However, Spitta (another alias of Shante Scott Franklin) has been one of a kind since being signed to Master P’s No Limit Records in the early 2000s. “I never put a label on it or what I thought I was trying to achieve, I just knew what I didn’t want to do,” Curren$y told The Ringer. “I never wanted to have a rap voice. I never wanted a mode I had to shift into to be whatever the fuck I had to be. I just wanted to be myself so that when it clicked, it would last long because it’s not really any work to be me.” Mainstream music isn’t all contemporary

tunes and classical pieces. What about rhymes, rhythm and melodies that pop up in your head to beat-box to? Whether you are into rap or not, Curren$y’s Pilot Talk trilogy is really something to be felt, and his standout collaborative projects with The Alchemist and Harry Fraud take a genuinely individual approach to each of their sounds. Also, he’s going to be rocking the stage with his live backing group, The 747 Band, as an extra bonus. Fendi P opens. Catch these artists on the Winners Circle tour at the Ibiza SLC Ultra Lounge on Sunday, March 29. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $48.18 and can be found at eventbrite.com. (Mark Dago)

Subterra, Mutilated Perception, Blond, High Five Hero @ Kilby Court 3/31

Often as bands form, they go through growing pains and that may include settling on a name—and SLC rock group Subterra has gone through different lineups and name changes before finding the right one. Their previous name, The Underground, represented being an underground band, not super well-known in the community, and also represented them physically, as their studio space was located in a basement. The name seemed too “high school” to the group, though, and taking inspiration from bands like Metallica (derived from the Latin adjective metallicus), they decided on Subterra, Latin for underground or subterranean (sub terra). The group is heavily inspired by ‘80s rock legends like Mötley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Poison and many others. Yet while their sound is definitely a tribute to the legends of yesteryear, they make it their own enough not to sound like a cheap replication. Their hard-rock sound is rich, and any rock fan can easily feel at home with Subterra jams. Joining Subterra is a rocking lineup including post-hardcore band Mutilated Perception, who are celebrating their January release Right Thumb’s Requiem. Blond and High Five Hero will also be rocking out, so don’t miss out on this awesome night. Head to Kilby Court on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. for a good time. Tickets for the all-ages show are $13 in advance or $15 at the door. Grab tickets at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Aries poet Maya Angelou proclaimed, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” In that spirit, Aries, I urge you to tell everyone everything—all your secret thoughts, hidden feelings and private opinions. Post your diary online! Confess your fantasies to strangers! Share your unfiltered inner monologue with authority figures! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Angelou urged us to bravely communicate our authentic truths, but not to overshare or be careless about observing good boundaries. Here’s the deep wisdom: Express thoughts and feelings that make you feel real and whole, but be discerning about when, where and to whom.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Taurus writer Charlotte Brontë said, “I would always rather be happy than dignified.” Given your current astrological potentials, I think that you should tattoo her motto across your forehead so everyone knows you’re committed to pleasure over propriety. Burn your dressy clothes! Quit doing boring duties! Dance naked in the woods! APRIL FOOL! I don’t really think you should tattoo your forehead or dance naked in public. But Brontë’s sentiment is sound: In the coming weeks, if forced to choose between joy and respectability, pick joy every time. Just do it with a modicum of common sense.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

Gemini actress Marilyn Monroe said, “A wise girl knows her limits. A smart girl knows that she has none.” I propose we expand that counsel to include all genders. And I especially recommend this approach to you right now. It’s time to shed, ignore and surpass all your so-called limits. Be as wild and free and uninhibited as you dare. APRIL FOOL! I worry that it’s irresponsible to give you such utter carte blanche. Would you consider honoring one or two limits that prevent you from indulging in crazy and extreme behavior? Otherwise, be wild and free and uninhibited!

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively about the importance of embracing our shadows: the dark, problematic aspects of ourselves we would rather not acknowledge. In the coming weeks, I recommend that you stop hiding that weird stuff! Throw a coming-out-of-the-closet party for all the questionable parts of you. Let your inner monsters run wild! APRIL FOOL! Please don’t do that. What Jung actually advocated was recognizing and integrating your shadow, not being ruled by it. So yes, explore your moody, unruly impulses, but with consciousness, kindness, and containment, not reckless expression.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Leo author James Baldwin observed, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” With that wisdom in mind, I advise you to spend the next two weeks obsessively staring at every dilemma in your life. Don’t look away! Don’t take breaks! Just face every dilemma constantly until you are overwhelmed! APRIL FOOL! Baldwin’s insight is brilliant, but it doesn’t require masochistic endurance. Here’s the truth: Yes, you should courageously acknowledge what needs attention, but do so with care and discernment. And then actually work on changing it! Awareness is the beginning, not the entire process.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Virgo author Agatha Christie wrote 66 detective novels in which she meticulously planned every plot twist. I think you should apply her approach to your daily life: Script every conversation! Anticipate every contingency! Control every variable! Leave nothing to chance! APRIL FOOL! Christie’s obsessive planning worked for fiction, but life requires improvisation. For you, the coming weeks favor spontaneity and flexibility. So make rough plans, sure, but stay loose enough to experiment with whatever emerges. Over-control would diminish the magic.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

My favorite Libran writer didn’t capitalize her name: bell hooks. I recommend you stage a similar rebellion against all rules and structures. Ignore social conventions! Flout traffic laws! Pay your taxes with paintings and poems you’ve created! APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating. I do love hooks’ charming revolt, but it would be counterproductive for you to randomly break all the rules of daily life. Instead, be judicious and selective as you question conventions thoughtfully and only violate those that genuinely deserve to be spurned. Be a strategic rebel, not a chaotic one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Scorpio poet Sylvia Plath wrote this in her journal: “I desire the things which will destroy me in the end.” I think you should consider embracing her approach—for the sheer, exotic thrill! Pursue interesting chaos! If it might unravel you, welcome it passionately! The more unruly, the better! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Plath was describing her struggle with depression, not offering advice. Here’s what I think you should actually do: Examine which of your yearnings serve your evolution and which undermine it. Embrace the fact that intensity is one of your greatest gifts, but channel that intensity into experiences that build you up, not tear you down. Choose ardent aliveness over fervent destruction.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Sagittarian philosopher Baruch Spinoza spent years alone in his room developing his radical ideas about God and nature. I recommend total isolation for you, too. In accordance with astrological omens, avoid human contact! Put your relationships on hold while you contemplate the infinite! APRIL FOOL! I totally lied. Spinoza’s solitude served his unique genius, but a similar approach won’t work for you—especially now. Here’s what I really think you require in the coming weeks: periods of meditative alone time balanced by intervals of rich connection with interesting humans. You need to commune with both your deep inner sources and nurturing alliances.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Capricorn astrologer Linda Goodman wrote that your sign’s “ambition is boundless” and that Capricorns dream of ruling the world. In accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to indulge this attribute. Launch a campaign for global domination! Start with your neighborhood and work up to more and more conquests! APRIL FOOL! The truth is, world domination is exhausting and impractical. What Goodman was referring to is your gift for structure and leadership. Use your organizational genius to improve your corner of the world, not tyrannize it. Think stewardship, not empire.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Aquarian inventor Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” In the spirit, I recommend that you falter spectacularly in the coming weeks. The more blunders and bungles, the better! Engage in a holy quest to seek as many fizzles and misfires as possible! Make Edison look like an amateur! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Edison wasn’t deliberately courting snafus, of course. His approach was similar to that of many creative artists: driven by exploratory persistence that capitalizes on mistakes and hassles. Here’s your real guidance, Aquarius: Experiment boldly, yes, and don’t fear stumbles and bumbles. But learn from each one and adjust your approach. The goal is eventual success that’s informed by humility and resiliency.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Piscean physicist Albert Einstein said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” In the spirit of his genius, I recommend that you abandon logic completely! Never think rationally again! Make all decisions based on fantasy and feelings! APRIL FOOL! Einstein was advocating for the creative power of imagination, not the abandonment of reason. What you truly need is a marriage of visionary thinking and practical logic. Ask your imagination to show you possibilities, then call on lucid logic to help you manifest them.

OPERATIONS MANAGER:

To plan, direct, & coord. company ops incl. purchases, expenses, sales rev., invoices, & payments; manage monthly bank recons. & proj. budget changes; create & implement company policies & operational goals to improve efficiency & performance. Mon–Fri, 40 hrs/wk. Req: 24 mos exp. in management or leadership. Mail resume to Berg Transportation LLC, 760 S 1840 W, Orem, UT 84059.

WELLNESS MANAGER:

To oversee wellness coord.; manage fitness facilities; design programs in fitness, nutrition, stress management & mental well-being. Inspire a healthier workplace company-wide. Mon–Fri, 40 hrs/wk. Req: 36 mos exp. in physical education, health, or rel. field AND Yoga Instructors Course Certification & Advanced Yoga Teacher Course. Mail resume to Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques, LLC, 32 S 1800 W Unit D, Lindon, UT 84042.

to coordinate operations at two English school campuses. Oversee document control, student registration files, compliance reporting, & accreditation records. Support campus managers w/ scheduling, facilities, & staff logistics. Mon–Fri, 40 hrs/wk. Req. Bach. deg. (or foreign equiv.) in Bus. Admin., Management., or closely related field. Mail resume to Lumos Language School, Inc., 220 E 3900 S, Suite 1, Salt Lake City, UT 84107.

urban LIVING

Artsy Fartsy

There’s two new museums coming to our capital city. I believe I have mentioned before that I’m very excited for the grand opening of the Museum of Utah, which will be housed in a new building located north of the state Capitol building at 450 N. State Street.

The grand opening will be June 27 and the museum will celebrate Utah’s unique history, culture and art through world-class exhibits, programming and community spaces. It’s an extension of the Utah Historical Society and although the place isn’t open yet, the museum store is: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Halloween mo.

4. Sauce on some pizzas

9. Eyelid nuisance

13. “Avatar” language

15. Drink, cat-style

16. Henchman

17. Ticklish Muppet

18. Assigned duty

19. Croatian currency

20. Not together

22. “I did perfectly!” (even if not)

24. City southeast of Los Angeles

27. Traffic jam ingredient

28. Band of schemers

29. Calculator component

33. “It’s ___ vu all over again”

36. Decorative

39. Racetrack shape

40. Renaissance Faire title

41. “___, Interrupted” (1999 drama)

42. 1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers hit

The store is full of books, stuffies, flags, shirts, cards, etc. They just acquired the iconic Mormon Meteor III land speed racer (think Salt Flats) that was commissioned by legendary driver Ab Jenkins and will be on display in time for the grand opening.

The second new museum is the Salt Lake Art Museum, which is being touted as the city’s first new fine art gallery in three decades. It is going into the historic B’nai Israel Temple at 249 S. 400 East, the oldest synagogue in the state and the first permanent Jewish house of worship in Utah. It was even built before the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Although the building hasn’t been used for religious services since the 1970s, it has seen other tenants like a café, offices and even a school.

The structure was designed by a German architect, Philip Meyer, who modeled his Salt Lake building after a synagogue in Berlin. Sadly, Meyer died in a Nazi death camp in 1943. He was related to Frederick Auerbach, the co-founder of the historic (but now defunct) Auerbach’s department store that competed with ZCMI department store in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The SLAM will open this summer in July. Its first event, covered by City Weekly last year, celebrated the architect Richard Kletting, famous for designing the Utah State Capitol, the Oquirrh School, the first Saltair Resort, Utah’s first fireproof building (The McIntyre Building), the Fisher Mansion, the original Salt Palace, various religious buildings in the state, four buildings on the University of Utah’s Presidents Circle and the old Territorial Insane Asylum, to name a few!

Kletting was also born in Germany and was one of 16 children, later moving to Paris where he learned design. He migrated to the U.S. in 1883 and among his earliest projects in Utah was the University of Deseret. The new owner of the Synagogue is Micah Christensen, who notes that he’s halfJewish and half-Mormon by descent, and that his great grandfather was a member of the congregation. He purchased the building for $3 million and plans to build a seven-story, 113-unit apartment complex next door. CW

44. Out on the briny

45. ___SmithKline (pharmaceutical company now known by its initials)

46. “Bed” or “home” ending

48. Cute animal reaction

50. Andes dweller, maybe

54. Undeveloped expanse

58. In a suitable way

59. Bugs Bunny antagonist Elmer

60. Energetically excited

63. Reach by phone

64. Compulsion

65. Michelangelo work in St. Peter’s Basilica

66. 2025 Pixar film

67. One with a crystal ball

68. Rescue shelter resident

69. Japanese bread?

DOWN

1. Shaq’s surname

2. Lily variety

3. Lois Griffin or Marge Simpson

4. “Thx” preceder

5. Grab a bite

6. Publication with a lot of backbone?

7. Fish in a flat can

8. Concerning sight

9. “Keep your hands at ten and two,” say?

10. Dull sound from a weight

11. Space pioneer Gagarin

12. Elton John achievement

14. Hamilton, when focused on molecular particles?

21. Time period for Taylor Swift

23. Put cargo on

25. Like ___ from the blue

26. Cartoon spun off from “Beavis and Butt-head”

30. Elevator company

31. Challenge

32. Jazz singer Fitzgerald

33. Rap’s Snoop ___

34. Wicked (and not for good)

35. Coffee

37. Marbled stone

38. “Twilight” author Stephenie

43. State home to Blank Park Zoo

47. “___ Wiedersehen!”

49. Tortilla-based sandwiches

51. “Boot” of Europe

52. “Hyperbole and a Half” writer/illustrator Brosh

53. 1930s DuPont fabric invention

54. “The Last ___”

55. Unadulterated

Last week’s answers

Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to 9. No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. Solving time is typically 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

NEWS of the WEIRD

What’s in a Name?

It’s election time in the town of Arcis-sur-Aube in France, where the office of mayor is up for grabs. Metro News reported on March 19 that the burg’s 2,785 people will have a choice between Charles Hittler, the incumbent, and Antoine Renault-Zielenski, the 28-year-old far-right candidate. Hittler isn’t a fan of the fuss: “If people were talking about the town and our policies, that would be one thing,” he said. “But all they’re interested in is our names.” He said his father considered changing his name after World War II, but it would have been too expensive. The election is scheduled for March 22.

Inexplicable

Most people can’t wait to leave the hospital after a stay for medical care. But at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare in Florida, one patient isn’t budging. WCTV reported on March 16 that a patient has occupied a room there since at least October, having been admitted for “acute care hospital services.” The first formal discharge order was filed on Oct. 7, with subsequent orders filed on Nov. 24 and March 2. Hospital staff have made repeated efforts to “safely complete discharge,” including coordinating with family members and arranging transportation. A hearing is set for March 30.

Least Competent Criminal

Patrick Alexander, 33, was this close to walking out of the Chesterfield County (Mississippi) Detention Center on March 16, having been ordered to pay a $250 bond on a trespassing charge. He handed three $100 bills to the judge, WSB-TV reported, and said, “Keep the change.” But the sharp-eyed judge noticed something weird about the bills—an unusual color, along with Chinese writing on the backs. A counterfeit detection pen backed him up—the bills were fake. Alexander faces an additional charge of forgery, and he was returned to custody.

Field Report

On March 10, a man and woman from Germany, who had been trying to ski 104 miles across a frozen lake between Finland and Sweden, had to be rescued after the ice around them broke up, the New York Post reported. They had been camping on the Gulf of Bothnia, which typically is frozen for much of the year, when almost all of their equipment went into the water. Finnish border guards received a distress signal and sent out a search plane and hovercraft. Fortunately, the couple had spelled out SOS with ice blocks and were rescued about five hours after their ordeal began. They were “of course cold” but were unharmed.

Ewwww

If you’re wondering where all of your hair ties go, maybe you should check in with your family feline. United Press International reported on March 17 that the HALO No-Kill Rescue Shelter in Sebastian, Florida, recently took in Midnite, a cat who had been diagnosed with an intestinal blockage and marked for euthanasia at another facility. When Midnite underwent surgery, doctors found the cause of the blockage: 26 hair ties. “This is an important

reminder that small objects around the house can be incredibly dangerous for pets,” the shelter posted on Facebook. Midnite is recovering and displaying a healthy appetite.

The Tech Revolution

A 70-year-old woman in Macau, China, went to the hospital after being startled by a 4-foot-4-inch robot on March 5, the Macau Post reported. As the woman walked along the street around 9 p.m., the bot followed her; she turned around and shouted, “You’re making my heart race! You’ve got plenty to do, so what’s the point of messing around with this?” Two police officers escorted the bot away; they later discovered it is owned by a tutorial center in the neighborhood, and the man operating it remotely said he was testing it. The bot, a Unitree G1, retails for about $13,000. The woman was released from the hospital.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Talk about making lemonade. Javier Yat, a 23-year-old mechanic in Brooklyn, New York, is lining his pockets with cash after setting up a tire station next to a huge pothole, the New York Post reported on March 17. Yat works out of his van and typically runs out of replacement tires each night. “I have to pay a runner to go back and forth to the shop for me and pick up what I need,” Yat said. “I think the pothole is approximately 60 square inches and 12 inches deep,” he said. He arrives in the area around 12:30 a.m. and stays until 10 a.m., changing 15 to 20 tires each night and charging between $150 and $300 per tire. “One man’s misfortune is another man’s blessing,” Yat said.

Recurring Themes

On March 18, as a shopper perused the plush toys at Hobart International Airport in Australia, they spotted a cute little face peering out from the shelf—and blinking. The Guardian reported that a brushtail possum had made itself at home among the stuffed kangaroos and dingoes, delighting customers and staff. Airport officials safely removed the little bundle of fur, but it’ll not be forgotten: “We’ll have a little shrine to the possum,” said Liam Bloomfield, retail manager. “There will be a nice little photo; once it gets a name, we will put a nice little post in front of the store to make sure it’s remembered.” No word on how it got through security.

That’s

One Way To Do It

Gustavo DeJesus Torres, 33, took his time in his bank-robbing spree, The New York Times reported on March 18, but didn’t net much of a haul. Torres robbed six banks in five days across Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx. At each Chase branch, Torres handed the teller a note saying people would get hurt if they didn’t hand over money. He got $320 and $265 from a couple of banks, but walked away with just $20 from another. And three branches gave him nothing at all. His total “earnings” were just $605. Police are still searching for Torres, who has been charged with bank robbery before.

Two-story Home

Gilmer Park (1160 E. Michigan), 4BR, 2BA, 2CG, lush back yard, Art Deco features, $999,900 MLS #2126768

S X S Duplex 1705 E. Zenith Ave 84016

Each side has huge rec room down 1 2BR unit, 1 3BR unit, rents $3500 mo. MLS #2142562 $799,900

Downtown Condo at 350S. 200 East at the METRO. One BR, top floor, light open space w/laundry in the unit, new price! $339,900 MLS #2126427

Flip This Home 4BR, 2BA, good bones but needs complete update. Cash only offers-sale pending, back up offers ok $359,900 MLS #2133854

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