City Weekly November 27, 2025

AFTER PARTIES

Plumhouse rallies the after-hours community as SLC Council eyes December vote on anti-nuisance ordinance.

BY ARICA ROBERTS

S AP

Best of Utah Corrections

Editor’s note: In an issue like the City Weekly Best of Utah, with 144 pages of local winners in more than 480 categories, unfortunate errors always slip through the proofreading. We appreciate the patience and feedback of those who brought the following to our attention.

The Best Coffee Shop Barista in Utah is Josh Ylst of Loki Coffee. Dustin Robbins tied for third place in the “Best Piercer” category, alongside Kristina Butterfield. Under the Umbrella Bookstore is the Best Minority-Owned Business in Utah. And

the winner of “Best Chef: Park City” is Brandon Giles of Hearth and Hill. Winners’ blurbs for Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective, Contender Bicycles and Myung Ga were erroneously omitted and are reprinted here in their entirety.

Best Korean Restaurant

Myung Ga Restaurant

There are skads of reasons why one should visit Myung Ga when in West Valley. Located beside the Performing Arts Center on Decker Lake Drive, it’s ideal for a meal before or after the show. Residing within cozy digs with Itto Sushi, it offers delectable options, but their barbecue is the true headliner. One can munch on marinated beef or savor the spice of a pork ssambap and the result will be the same: applause.

Standout Bicycle Services

With a freeway splitting the city in half and 100-foot-wide thoroughfares flooding downtown with rush-hour traffic, Salt Lake City might not seem like the best place for cycling. But two-wheeled trav-

elers know it’s a matter of perspective— choosing the best routes, mastering transit connections and, most importantly, knowing where to turn for help keeping your ride in tip-top shape.

For the bargain-hunting and handson types, the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective’s DIY parts and repair shop offers a nurturing space to master the basics of bike maintenance under the eye of trained professionals, while their inventory of used equipment offers the lowest prices on the largest variety of models in town.

For the passionate cyclist, seeking topshelf gear fresh out of the box, visit the experts at Contender Bicycles, a nearly 30-year staple of the 9th and 9th neighborhood, SLC’s unofficial cycling capital.

Best Bicycle Repair Shop

Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective bicyclecollective.org

2. Saturday Cycles

3. Bingham Cyclery

Best Bicycle Store Contender Bicycles contenderbicycles.com

2. Guthrie Bicycle Co.

3. Saturday Cycles

“Worst Utahn”—Sen. Mike Lee

Gotta be Mike Lee after he tried to sell off public lands.

KELLY DONAHOE MILLER Via Facebook

Better luck next year Gov. Cox, but congrats on being No. 2. _RELATIONSCAPES Via Instagram

Sen. Mike Lee, you’re the most hated man in Utah. Take a hint and resign. WREDWRITINGHOOD Via Instagram

All the homies hate Sen. Mike Lee—truly the biggest POS Utahn, with a close second being Gov. Spencer Cox. RACONTEURICK Via Instagram

Does it have to be just one person? Can’t we just nominate the entire Churchislature? TYLER MORRIS Via Facebook

THE WATER COOLER

What will be your food assignment for Thanksgiving?

Kayla Dreher Tequila.

Wes Long

Amateur cook, probably. I’m not expecting a top-tier meal.

Katharine Biele

I guess all of it.

Scott Renshaw

My food assignment is everything for the actual dinner, but my wife makes a mean pumpkin pie, so it still works out for me.

Bryan Bale

I’ll be in charge of preparing my own meal. I may even bring my own beverage.

Chelsea Neider

Cooking a plant-based dish for myself.

Paula Saltas

Greek stuffing, pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll. If you are invited to my house and bring a Costco pumpkin pie, keep it in your car, thank you for your attention to this matter.

Krista Maggard

As the only veg in my family, I typically just fend for myself. But I try to bring things that others will at least try, like veggie pot pie and desserts!

PRIVATE EYE Pass the Pie

WBY JOHN SALTAS

herever you are reading this—at least the physical newspaper version—you might have time for a little quiz. Those of you reading online will be too distracted by pop-up ads, social media notifications, phone calls and other messy attention-grabbers to even finish the column, let alone play along, so just carry on your business until you get buzzed by some guy named Malcolm with a New Jersey accent, but who has an offshore phone number announcing that you’ve prequalified for another $97,000 signature loan, causing you to spill your coffee.

That never happens to people who read from a newspaper—newspapers don’t talk back. Even if it did, spilling your coffee upon getting the news of yet another $97,000 loan would not damage anything other than a few sheets of newsprint.

Spilling coffee on your computer, or maybe dropping your phone into said coffee, results in a visit to your nearest Apple Store—where the only benefit is sharing guilt stories with everyone around you for not buying a PC computer or Android phone.

Today—Tuesday, November 25—the Utah State Legislature poobahs (specifically the faction of chest-puffers within that Legislature who are, for some reason, regarded as “leaders”) met to announce the ways they plan to proceed with dispensing of a recent judicial order to return Utah’s legislative district maps to a level of fairness that they highly dispute.

They are proclaiming all kinds of whiny rationale as to why they feel compelled to challenge the judicial ruling, which declared Utah is gerrymandered to the point

of ridiculousness and that new districts must be aligned before the 2026 elections. If I were attending, and if I had a cup of coffee, I’d spill it upon them. These folks got a wake-up call and refused to wake up.

A statewide, public vote against gerrymandering—the 2018 Prop 4 referendum—proved that Utahns of both parties want to be fairly represented. Despite that vote and with a pile of wrangling and no shortage of arrogance, the Legislature told Utahns to “Eff off,” and proceeded to redraw our election maps according to the whims of the Utah State Legislature.

The definition of whim in this case is: “we shall draw Utah’s maps in the manner that best suits our personal survival and ensures that the people paying us for this fiasco are more than reasonably compensated.”

Since our leaders were “fairly” elected—by no coincidence via jigsaw-shaped districts of their own creation that politically benefitted themselves first and foremost—they ended up in the unique position of being both parent and child. They gave birth to unfair districts, from which their progeny would feed, while protecting their parents—a never-ending loop of sameness; a political version of the no-beginning-and-no-end Ouroboros Loop. If you’re still on your phone, Google that.

They want sameness so badly that, as I look over the room in the Legislature’s live broadcast, I see no one who looks like me. I don’t see any Greeks up there with Senate President Stuart Adams—but that’s no surprise, since Greeks are pretty well blended in these days.

Maybe they’re wrapping the post-news-conference gyros for lunch. Who knows?

But where are the Hispanics, Latinos, Blacks, Samoans, Tongans, Africans, Asians and all the rest, who comprise other pockets of local history as well as the world map that is basically all of the rest of Salt Lake County, where more than 100 foreign languages are spoken in area schools?

Since they are so brazen as to hold a press conference espousing the need for them to secure representative political fairness, then they are certainly aware that they have thusly failed. If anyone needs to know what is wrong

with carving Salt Lake County into quarters by the Utah Legislature, just blast images of today’s press conference far and wide.

Let those images do the talking, for it is plain as day that dividing diverse and blue Salt Lake County into nonfitting pieces of pumpkin pie is just a pile of whipping cream to the face. They must wear it.

I have more trust that a sewing needle can be used to hammer a nail through brick masonry than I trust that the Utah Legislature will do the right thing for any segment of our populace that does not look and act exactly like them. And importantly, they will not benefit persons or agents who do not arrive with lucre in hand. Yeah, our leaders are bought, sold and measured.

So, the quiz. It’s not hard, but: What do Karen Shepherd, Enid Greene Mickelsen (formerly Waldholtz), Merrill Cook, Jason Chaffetz, Mia Love, Burgess Owens and Mike Kennedy have in common?

Answer: Each of them recently represented parts of my Salt Lake County, but none were born in Utah. So, what’s this crappola about Utahns knowing what’s best for Utah, Sir Stuart?

Just a few minutes ago, Senate President Adams— speaking to the crowd of Stepford clones surrounding him—said that Utahns want to set their own boundaries. His central argument is that a radicalized, liberal judge went beyond her bounds by declaring the previous maps unfair, and that only his kind—the fairly elected—should create Utah’s voting district borders.

He said, with a straight face, that Utah should not be beholden to outside dollars, implying that everyone else cheated but him.

Then what accounts for the millions of dollars being spent in Utah, and much of it outside money, with the intent of reversing Prop 4 via a deceptive petition and odious claims under the barely closeted name of Securing American Greatness?

It’s not becoming to glance askew at your own, blemished dark money, Stuart.

So, what gives? Pass the pie. CW

Send comments to john@cityweekly.net

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TODAY!

HITS & MISSES

BY KATHARINE

MISS: Unpaid Bills

While Salt Lake City salivates over a plan to rebuild downtown as a sports and entertainment center, officials should be focusing on another historic neighborhood—the Granary District. This area just south of downtown began as a residential neighborhood. With the transcontinental railroad boom of the 1870s, it became an industrial hub and has spent decades since then punching up to become relevant again. It has housed artist communities, restaurants and bars but has struggled to blossom. Now one of its newest mixed-use developments—Industry SLC—is facing foreclosure. There’s an unfinished parking garage next door and apparently millions of dollars in unpaid loans for the modern office, retail, industrial and multi-family residential space, according to Building Salt Lake. It’s not the end of the Granary—which is spotted with murals and sculptures—but it is another roadblock to making the Granary a productive and sustainable neighborhood.

HIT: Water Plans

No one disputes that Utah is dry and that water is at a premium. How to live, work, play and grow here, however, is a question whose solution is increasingly elusive. State lawmakers continue to hope and pray that the “weather” will keep the Great Salt Lake from drying up, while they also support thirsty data centers and, possibly, a water-hungry nuclear plant. Golf courses in southern Utah might become victims of water-saving efforts while the state continues to support agricultural uses that account for just a fraction of GDP. But now, the state auditor has a better idea and it involves the Legislature actually making a plan. According to auditors, Some cities have been over-estimating their need for water and plan to find new sources—wherever that may be. A state statute asks municipalities to make a 40-year plan for water use but there are no guidelines, standards or enforcement. The audit says the state should require all of that.

MISS: Lost Kids

Where have all the children gone, you ask? Certainly it’s a problem for public education, which is now looking at closing schools and hoping for the best. Washington County, for instance, enrolled 1,600 fewer students this year, and it’s not just people having fewer babies. Housing costs and voucher programs take a big toll. Granite School District parents recently implored the district to make a master plan to preserve important programs that benefit communities. “Research shows school closures destabilize communities, reduce academic achievement, and disproportionately harm vulnerable students,” they wrote. That may be true, but our Legislature wants to leave education totally up to whatever loving, twoparent families are left. CW

Lounging Around

Delta Airlines opened its second Sky Club lounge at the SLC Airport last month, joining their original A-gate lounge and a newly-opened American Express Centurion Lounge to raise the airport’s profile. The lounge cements Delta’s status as the city’s airline-tobeat, while American Express’ move into SLC shows the city’s rise.

The new Delta lounge is directly outside the B-gate tunnel, available to those flying Delta with status or credit card access. Delta plans to expand into B-gate departures, with this key piece of real estate appreciating by the minute. While Delta’s A-gate lounge offers passengers a taste of Utah’s natural beauty, with outdoor seating and views of the Oquirrh Mountains, the B-gate lounge evokes a cozy ski chalet with a massive fireplace and plush couches.

Harrison Archibald—former White Horse bartender and “Best Mixologist” winner in the 2025 City Weekly Best of Utah awards—noted the significance of the new lounges. He joined Delta three months ago after White Horse burned down. “We’re growing, Bgate is expanding. We’re getting more flights out across the world,” he said. “Salt Lake City’s the crossroads of the West, even more so now with international flights.”

Still, every airport lounge is … an airport lounge. Dining and drink options are identical to Delta’s A-gate space—Bloody Marys from a bottle and eggs that are an odd shade of yellow. The highly-anticipated dirty soda bar is unique, but the DIY setup means those who wish to “have a happy day” may be better off at the nearby Thirst.

But even budget travelers can rejoice in the new Amex lounge, if they’re willing to commit their flight savings to the nearly-$900 annual card fee. At first glance, the Amex lounge seems unimpressive. Tucked into a corner of terminal B, the lobby looks squashed. And yet, a short elevator ride gives a completely different impression.

With a full indoor bar and an outdoor can-service bar, Amex patrons can enjoy views of the Salt Lake sunset, framed by the Oquirrh Mountains and Antelope Island. Come ski season, outdoor heat lamps and an indoor fireplace will compete with Delta for the comfiest waiting room.

The layout can be confusing at first glance, as it was for Steve Martin of San Diego (not the actor), who recently visited family in Salt Lake. Martin said he usually frequents the Delta lounge, but wanted to see Amex’s offerings. “It’s too spread out, too niche-y,” Martin said. “I’d give it a 7 out of 10.”

Still, Amex hits the right spots for the harried traveler: showers; soundproof rooms for calls; an interior (free) Blue Roast coffee shop offering caffeine and pastries. Ultimately, these lounges cater to SLC’s growing presence as an international tourist hub.

“Utah county, Ogden, Logan … everything is just expanding so rapidly,” said Kirsten, an Amex barback and former Snowbird bartender. “The secret’s out. If you’re an outdoors person, if you like skiing or rock climbing, everyone is excited about Utah.” CW

Big Shiny Robot

Grateful for What Wasn’t

For Thanksgiving, some gratitude for unrealized projects that allowed classics to emerge.

BY BRYAN YOUNG comments@cityweekly.net

It’s interesting to consider how many creative projects were conceived, considered, cancelled, worked on or even came close to realization before the rug was pulled on them. Some never got further than being a great idea; others were close to being released.

In many cases, we lament the fact these projects never happened, wishing for what could have been. Sometimes we feel robbed by those unfinished works. Take, for example, John Steinbeck’s incomplete modernization and retelling of The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights. He toiled on it for years, retelling Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur into modern language. The scant stories Steinbeck finished are a revelation, and the completion of the project would have truly been a gift to the world. But what about those works that didn’t happen where we’re grateful that they didn’t? Those that, because they never came to fruition, perhaps gave way to something greater?

Naturally, my favorite example might be when, hot off the success of American Graffiti, George Lucas wanted to make a Flash Gordon picture, obsessed with the Saturday matinee serials of his youth. George Lucas would have brought a quality and excitement to Flash Gordon that would

have birthed a masterpiece. But when the super-producer Dino De Laurentiis, who owned the rights to Flash Gordon, refused Lucas’ request, Lucas was instead inspired to make Star Wars. I’m doubly grateful De Laurentiis said no, because it would have robbed us of the 1980 adaptation of Flash Gordon and its soundtrack by Queen.

A similar instance came shortly after the release of Star Wars. Steven Spielberg coveted the director’s chair of a James Bond film, but the producers were adamant that only British directors could do the job. Consoling Spielberg, George Lucas told him to forget Bond, he had a better idea—and they made Raiders of the Lost Ark together. In a nod to those James Bond inspirations, not only do all of those films have the classic pre-credit action sequence that caps off a previous adventure like all the Bond films, but they took Sean Connery, the original 007, and made him Indy’s father in the third installment of the series. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather have five fantastic Indiana Jones pictures, a TV series, stunt show spectacular, theme park ride, book and video games, than one Spielberg-helmed Bond picture.

Sometimes un-produced films pop up in other media as well. Take Frank Miller, for example. He was renowned for reinventing Batman in his The Dark Knight graphic novels and Year One arc, and redefined Daredevil for Marvel. After finishing his run on Daredevil in the early ‘90s, he was asked to develop a treatment for a movie involving Daredevil’s origin story. When the film never materialized, he adapted it with the artist John Romita into the classic five-issue mini-series Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, hailed as one of the all-time great works of comic storytelling. That wasn’t the only time Miller would take

un-produced scripts and turn them into great comics. (See Frank Miller’s version of Robocop 2.)

I’m similarly grateful that William Gibson, author of Neuromancer and the man who coined the term “cyberspace,” never saw his script for Alien 3 produced. I, for one, adore David Fincher’s vision for Alien 3—probably more than he does. And the comic book adaptation of Gibson’s script is wildly different and astounding in its own way, giving us two different looks at what was and could have been. I’m truly grateful we have both.

Another project that I’m impossibly grateful for having imploded is Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. This is another one of those things that became impossible in its original form, and we’re better for it. Gilliam spent years trying to make the film and even started rolling cameras with Johnny Depp as the lead. The film completely fell apart, how-

ever, and was abandoned in 2000, all while behind-the-scenes documentary cameras kept rolling. All of that footage became part of one of the most jaw-dropping and entertaining documentaries I’ve ever seen, 2002’s Lost in La Mancha, a stunning nightmare about the worst way a film could possibly go wrong. Almost 20 years later, Gilliam was fortunate enough to be able take another crack at the film, replacing Johnny Depp with Adam Driver and bringing his Brazil collaborator Jonathan Pryce along as Don Quixote himself. Without the utter failure of the original, we’d have been robbed of these two tremendous works of art.

The next time the project you’re looking forward to is cancelled, just consider what masterpiece might be lurking around the corner instead. There could be something incredible to look forward to. It’s happened before, and could happen again. CW

Ryan Hamilton

It’s been eight years since comedian Ryan Hamilton’s last TV special, the Netflix hour Happy Face, but you could forgive him if there have been some extenuating circumstances during the intervening period.

That includes being hit by a bus in January 2022—no, that’s not a joke, he was literally hit by a bus in a rental-car lot. He’s recovered enough that he can joke about it now, though as he shared on fellow comedian Mike Birbiglia’s “Working It Out” podcast earlier this year, it’s not even a matter of “comedy equals tragedy plus time.” “The funnier the vehicle [you were hit by], the shorter the time,” he quipped.

Now recovered, Hamilton just recorded his long-awaited follow-up to Happy Face in October and continues to enjoy an enviable stand-up career, including the prime spot of being a regular opener for Jerry Seinfeld. That’s a pretty sweet career trajectory for a guy who grew up in rural Idaho, started writing a humor column for the local newspaper while he was still in high school, and started producing stand-up shows as a college student in an area that didn’t exactly have a thriving comedy scene. “I did stand-up comedy before I ever saw a live comedy show,” he recounted on “Working It Out.” He’s worked it out pretty well since then, though.

Ryan Hamilton returns to the Salt Lake City comedy scene where his career really took off with a show titled (coincidentally enough) Working It Out for six performances Nov. 26 – Dec. 3. Several performances are sold out at press time; visit wiseguyscomedy.com for tickets and additional details. (Scott Renshaw)

Utah Symphony: Messiah Sing-in

If you haven’t already officially started your holiday season—and it does seem to begin earlier every year—Thanksgiving weekend certainly feels like the launch date. That’s one reason it has been the customary setting for one of Utah’s most beloved Christmas season traditions, as the Utah Symphony & Chorus invites guests to sing along with the powerful music of Handel’s  Messiah

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Conductor Jessica Rivero Altarriba leads the symphony, while the Symphony Chorus and soloists Stephanie Chee (soprano), Julia Holoman (mezzo-soprano), Aaron McKone (tenor) and Rodney Sharp II (baritone) sing the 1741 oratorio inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus, including the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. The structure was inspired by Handel’s devotion to the three-act structure of Italian opera, and perhaps surprisingly to those unfamiliar with the entire work, its most famous individual section—the “Hallelujah” chorus—comes not at the end of work, but at the end of the second act, marking the triumph over death. Audience members, as is part of the performance’s long-standing tradition, are invited to sing along in celebration.

You can join the Utah Symphony & Chorus for the performance of  Messiah on one of two performance dates—Saturday, Nov. 29 or Sunday, Nov. 30—at 7:30 p.m. at Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple). Tickets range from a family-friendly $12 (around the cost of a movie ticket) to $44. Performance scores will also be available in the lobby for patrons. Visit utahsymphony.org for tickets and additional event information. (SR)

A Drag Queen Christmas

Despite ongoing controversies ginned up in some sectors, drag continues to move into the mainstream, in no small part thanks to the success of RuPaul’s Drag Race. According to one-time Drag Race contestant Nina West—who hosts the A Drag Queen Christmas show—it’s not possible to overstate what the show has done for drag and its performers. “[Drag Race contestants] have the ability to share our stories and have people of all different backgrounds and ages, races, sexual orientations, religions— all connect with us on some level, and that is powerful,” West shares via email.

The art of drag gets a satisfying holiday spin in this show, which also features Shea Coulee, Jewels Sparkles, Crystal Methyd, Suzie Toot and more. West notes that as a performer, she always presents a unique show, not a canned script that’s repeated every night. “All of my patter and play with the audience is really curtailed to that specific city for the specific moment,” West says. “I like to think that it helps make it more special for me and the people in the room that night. … I think what we are really leaning into this year for our holiday show is queer joy and hope. Drag is the art and mechanism with which we get to share that message, and that alone is empowering.”

Deep Thoughts

BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw

Eternity BBB

Movies about the afterlife are always less about the way we think about death than the way we think about life, and this charming comedy finds something sweet in considering the life we lived vs. the life we never lived and wonder about. After they die a week apart after 65 years of marriage, Larry and Joanie Cutler (Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen) find themselves in an afterlife way-station where you pick an eternal experience to your liking. But there’s a potential impediment to spending eternity together: Luke (Callum Turner), Joanie’s first husband who died in the Korean War, and has been waiting all this time for a chance to be with her. Co-writer/director David Freyne has lots of fun with the micro-specialized afterlife “worlds” pitching for new residents, and the cast—including John Early and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as “afterlife coordinators” for the newly deceased—is uniformly terrific. The real punch, though, comes in a finale with echoes of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, suggesting that there’s something powerful in accepting messiness and imperfection as part of a real human experience. The jokes start to lose a little of their zing after nearly two hours, and Freyne perhaps doesn’t fully wrestle with how any never-ending experience might feel like a kind of hell. Fortunately, along the way he offers a warm-hearted romantic triangle with a thoughtful kick. Available Nov. 26 in theaters. (PG-13)

Wake Up Dead Man BBBB

It’s not as though writer/director Rian Johnson wasn’t already using his Benoit Blanc whodunnits to take swipes at the way the powerful abuse their positions, but there’s something richer and more mature in this third installment—less an acidic broadside than an earnest cri de coeur. This time around, famed detective Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called in to consult on a mur-

der case at an upstate New York Catholic parish, with the rogues’ gallery including the newly-arrived young pugilistic priest (Josh O’Connor), the fire-and-brimstone monsignor (Josh Brolin) and various parishioners (Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Glenn Close, Thomas Haden Church, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny and Daryl McCormack). Though it’s far from dour, Wake Up Dead Man features less of Johnson’s puckish humor, offering up a meditation on American religiosity in the 21st century that’s both angry and heartbroken, with O’Connor’s wonderful performance serving as the fulcrum. And visually, cinematographer Steve Yedlin captures the thematic components with a constant shifting of what the light reveals and the darkness hides, up to and including the terrific final shot. As has been true of all of the Benoit Blanc features, the resolution to the mystery is thoroughly satisfying, but never the point in and of itself, and nobody who has seen Knives Out or Glass Onion can be shocked about Johnson’s socio-political perspectives. There’s simply a depth of feeling here beyond partisanship, of a kind that finds both entertainment and enlightenment in seeking the true heart of Christianity. Available Nov. 26 in theaters; Nov. 12 via Netflix. (PG-13)

Zootopia 2 BBB

“Second verse, same as the first” isn’t usually a formula I find satisfying for sequels, but maybe this time around the Zootopia universe feels ever so slightly more thoughtful about its fairly obvious allegory for making a multi-cultural society work. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are now police partners in the animal-populated world of Zootopia, but their careers might be over before they’ve begun after they end up implicated in a crime where the prime suspect is a snake (Ke Huy Quan), one of the reptiles who have been mostly shunned from Zootopia’s mammal-focused society. Returning directors Jared Bush (who also wrote the screenplay) and Byron Howard go quite a bit heavier on the dad-joke animal puns this time around, and it’s still not remotely subtle about making it clear that, yes, it is a bad thing when we judge whole groups as inherently bad. But there are also more layers to that notion this time around—about how people can be part of the problem by refusing to take a stand, and how rewriting history to exclude certain groups makes it easier to denigrate them—along with lots of energetic action and a solid group of voice performances (including Patrick Warburton as a movie-star-turned-mayor). Throw in an absolute bop of a new song by Shakira’s Gazelle, and you’ve got something that wraps its message in an appealing candy-colored package. Available Nov. 26 in theaters. (PG)

AFTER PARTIES

BY ARICA ROBERTS COMMENTS@CITYWEEKLY.NET

The team behind Plumhouse says their afterhours events include paid security, on-site medical care and other safety protocols.

The Salt Lake City Council is expected to vote in December on a controversial proposal targeting nuisance complaints and after-hours alcohol consumption, which carries heavy implications for event organizers and the electronic dance music (EDM) community.

After an initial vote was postponed in the face of public backlash, a special three-person subcommittee composed of Councilmembers Chris Wharton, Alejandro Puy and Darin Mano was formed to meet with stakeholders and, if possible, address their concerns.

Wharton, who represents District 3, said the Council’s primary aim is to address public safety issues, such as fights and noise, rather than implementing an outright alcohol ban between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

“There’s more of an interest, at this point, in looking at these nuisance issues that the administration has identified—of things that sometimes happen with these parties,” Wharton said. “That they’re loud, that there can be fights happening outside, things like that.”

The Councilmembers say they are committed to a slower, more deliberate and transparent process that includes gathering more community input. And the December vote is intended to make clear where the city is heading on the topic before the end of the year.

But from online petitions with more than 10,000 signatures to Council meeting sit-ins and public comments, local after-hours music collectives like BLAQ VOID, Doof, ETA45MINS, FERVOR, IYKYK HiFi+, Ranger Soundcar, New City Movement, Plumhouse, Occult Cats, TILT and EDM Elevated—as well as event workers, artists and attendees—are determined to be heard.

One arts and music collective, Plumhouse, has taken the lead on this initiative. The private, nonprofit social club hosts weekly late-night events in a permanent location, often collaborating with other local collectives who rent out the venue.

Those organizers say the proposed ordinance poses a particular existential threat to their business that would also affect dozens of other collectives, their employees and countless artists in Salt Lake City.

“We’re not moving around and we’re not just a pop-up underground space,” said Plumhouse founder Thinh Doan.

“We’re always in one location. So if they really wanted to shut us down, they could find us and shut us down pretty much at any time.”

Plumhouse launched in the Granary District in 2024, after Doan’s house parties became too large and disruptive. Driven by a need for a more controlled environment, the gritty warehouse venue near 700 South and 400 West became a safe space for the EDM community.

The project evolved further when David Brooks joined the team, bringing extensive operational experience from his work with Jaguar Occult and other underground venues, dating back to 2009.

The broader EDM scene is known for its core values of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect (PLUR).

And Salt Lake City’s local after-hours community prides itself in being more than an entity that produces parties and events; rather, they see themselves as cultural workers and community builders.

Organizers stress that they have made every effort to coordinate with the city. For example, as an attorney, Doan has worked to ensure that events are legally compliant.

According to Doan, Plumhouse knew their time at the Granary warehouse would be limited, due to ongoing construction of apartments next door. They made efforts to avoid noise complaints and uphold safety by implementing professional security and an enforceable code of conduct.

In one instance, on the night of May 18th, local police arrived because a parked RV had shut down a fire lane. And even though all events are BYOB, Plumhouse was accused of indirect alcohol sales by selling tickets for entrance.

Less than a week later, Plumhouse made a strategic shift to become a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization, with a membership model to achieve legal compliance after facing pressure from law enforcement.

Gregory Rogers—a Plumhouse co-founder—stressed that the notion of their group hosting raucous parties that have been shut down by Salt Lake police is misleading.

“The level of ‘rule breaking’ when it gets ‘shut down’ is so mild, minuscule,” he said. “My nieces and nephews and family were there when we got ‘shut down’ that night. It was an arts festival, as opposed to a crazy party where everyone is drinking.”

Swift Changes

Plumhouse debuted their current warehouse location—at 569 W. 600 South—during the weekend of September 5, demonstrating additional proactive efforts to avoid issues with the neighboring residential development encroaching upon their initial location.

The new, 8,800-square-foot space features two stages, an outdoor patio and a designated vendor area, with on-site EMTs and eight security guards for each event.

By September 9, the City Council and local media outlets began describing the potential for increased penalties against businesses that allow alcohol consumption after legal commercial hours, citing examples like the New Yorker nightclub downtown before it was raided in 2023, along with club-adjacent shootings that had no connection to any EDM after-hours event.

What the city is proposing is in response to “persistent” public nuisance issues at nonresidential premises within the city, which have “placed significant strain on city resources and negatively impacted neighborhood safety and quality of life,” said Michael Sanders, a policy analyst for Salt Lake City.

The debate caught Plumhouse’s attention, and they quickly informed other collectives. Along with the online petitions, these collectives banded together and flooded social media while making efforts to educate the public and city officials about their events.

Organizers argue that data for after-hours nuisance calls and fights are not associated with their scene. For example, BLAQ VOID founders Drue Olsen, Brandon Gebo and Randy Jimenez wrote on their Instagram that their events had “zero overdoses, zero stabbings, zero shootings, zero citations and zero illegal alcohol sales” during seven years of business.

FERVOR’s founder, Gizmoe Alonzo, also said that high standards have been implemented with their safety teams, and he noted the presence of Salt Lake Harm Reduction at every event.

Plumhouse encourages members to come to their regular safety workshops and to be vigilant at events with a “see something, say something” approach.

“The biggest thing is making sure that people are safe,” Brooks explained. “There’s [risk of] overdoses, assaults,

with an after hours space. Every month, we’re bringing in somebody to train our security staff on ways to handle those situations and how to deescalate.”

Peaceful Protest

Prior to the City Council’s annual west side meeting on Oct. 7, debate on the proposed alcohol ban was paused indefinitely. While the massive social media campaigns had influenced the public discourse and news coverage, Puy made clear that the ordinance was being pulled from the agenda so that the evening’s focus would stay on west side residents.

Some collectives still encouraged their members to show up dressed in black clothing to demonstrate solidarity, to sit in the Glendale meeting’s overflow area and to be silent.

Prior to the public comments portion of the agenda, Councilmember Victoria Petro attempted to preempt criticism, stating, “we know this is what you all came for” and reminded the audience to refrain from clapping.

In a call to action for city leaders to work with the afterhours community, rather than against it, local DJ and producer Sarah Liebrecht (Sarah Lies), offered public comment on behalf of the collectives.

“We believe this measure represents government overreach into private spaces, criminalizing consensual gatherings among adults,” Liebrecht read from a prepared statement. “These events are not unsafe; in fact, they are self-regulated with certified security, licensed EMTs, harmreduction staff, age restrictions and long-standing compliance with city ordinances.”

Liebrecht’s statement also included actionable suggestions, including affordable registration pathways for private events, standard safety requirements such as security, EMTs and facilities, open partnership with city officials on guidelines and health resources, and expanded late-night transit services to reduce DUI risks.

“The data shows these spaces are managed responsibly,” Liebrecht said. “What this ordinance would actually do is misallocate city resources. Enforcing restrictions on safe, organized private events pulls officers and services away from areas where they are truly needed.”

Plumhouse agrees. While the Granary District may see

more calls for police services than other, primarily-residential areas of the city, they argue it is unfair for the police department to categorize their community as a nuisance.

“If we didn’t exist, they would be way more spread out,” Brooks argued. “Put one cop in charge of Granary District and if anything goes wrong, then fine, come help us. That’s literally what our taxes pay for.”

Culture and Community

Along with a strong commitment to safety, after-hours events function as a vital “third space” for marginalized communities. For example, Fervor is a BIPOC and queercentered collective. They also provide economic and cultural contributions as a launchpad for local artists, technicians and small businesses.

From the SLC Music Festival at Library Square in August— hosted by BLAQ VOID, Ranger Soundcar, Rainbow Room and Oddball—featuring local bands and DJs, to Plumhouse’s role in this year’s Hoodah Fest, these collectives argue that they are building community with the city during “regular” hours as well. Plumhouse hosts fashion shows and Sunday daytime markets, BLAQ VOID hosts an annual fundraiser and, in 2021, they were part of the city’s Juneteenth celebrations.

The after-hours scene is a cultural experience that has helped to put Salt Lake City on the music map. Garrett Erickson—of the local DJ and producer duo, Pretty Pink Horror Story—explained that after-hours events are crucial spaces for local artists to be seen and gain more opportunities to perform at larger festivals.

“The afters are often the only places in Utah where bass artists get an opportunity to play at,” he said.

Often, big-name artists who play at Mutiny Music Collective or V2 shows will drop in at after-hours events, which also creates networking opportunities for emerging local artists. Work experience is also offered for a variety of people—from stage and sound technicians to back-of-house talent management—who want to learn the ins and outs of the music industry on a smaller, local level.

“At the end of the day, it’s about being able to have a community and come together with shared interests in EDM, expression and art,” Brooks said.

With a median age of 33, Salt Lake City is a thriving place for young adults. And the growth of Utah’s most progressive city remains an ongoing conversation, with the upcoming 2034 Olympic Games a constant on everyone’s mind.

In recent years, there has been an outpouring of government investment into improving the city’s infrastructure—such as Trax expansions and streetscape improvements—as well as new sports teams and stadiums. Members of the after-hours community see their grassroots efforts as a boost to the local economy, supporting Salt Lake City’s growth strategies and building a reputable arts and nightlife culture in the city.

“Salt Lake is actually, finally having a mature, grownup city experience on music,” Puy said. “And I value that.”

Safety First

At an after-hours event, the security teams, dancers, photographers, DJs and attendees share a common goal of safety. Josue Mejicanos, an after-hours photographer, explained how he didn’t realize how organized everything was for late night shows until he started shooting for them.

“I realized, ‘wow, there’s full-on security, there’s full-on pat downs.’ It’s safe,” he said. “I don’t feel—anytime I go to any of these parties with my thousands of dollars worth of camera gear—that something is going to go wrong. I’m never worried that someone’s going to steal my stuff.”

He said he has found the events and venues to be both safe and inclusive, and he wished that more of the city’s non-participating residents were aware of that.

“People think it’s just a place for hooligans to go party and be out late till 4:00 a.m.,” Mejicanos said. “But it’s really not.”

Anthony Benitez, founder of the Haus of Flux dance team, explains that beyond just showing up to dance at BLAQ VOID, he is side-by-side with the team working hard to ensure that safety remains a priority and a reality.

“We have ground control, we have extra security,” Benitez said. “I’ll be up there entertaining and keeping the energy going, but we’re also all together looking out to make sure everybody’s safe and having fun.”

By separating the two proposed ordinances and only moving forward with the nuisance component, the impact on after-hours organizers may be less severe.

Doan suggested that a nuisance-based ordinance would likely be less of an issue for Plumhouse, but he worried that it could become a tool for critics to unfairly report or inflate nuisance concerns.

“What constitutes a valid call—someone just upset at us or targeting us?” he asked. “There shouldn’t be a chilling effect of real calls for the safety of our patrons.”

Salt Lake leaders have already approved another ordinance aimed at reducing “unruly” parties close to the University of Utah.

That measure, approved in August, shifted responsibility to property owners while increasing the penalties for parties, gatherings or events that “disturb the public peace, safety and welfare of the community.”

This ordinance was passed based upon data that showed “a 300% increase on calls for service for gigantic, massive parties closer to the U,” Puy explained, “which is quite abnormal, especially when police departments have data for decades.”

Doan said he had looked into the calls for service in the Granary area, and while there has been an uptick as the formerly-industrial area developes into an entertainment district, it is nothing on the scale of unruly house parties near the university.

“The closest thing I got is that calls have gone up several percentage points on the year for those hours,” he said, “but nothing substantial enough to have a real ban.”

If approved, the nuisance changes would amend Titles 5 and 11 of the City Code. However, Wharton said a new ordinance may not be necessary.

“Do we need a new city ordinance for this? Or can we make changes to the process within the permitting department that would resolve it?” he asked.

There is a shared goal for safety among the City Council and after-hours collectives. Next month, Salt Lakers will see whether the Council and businesses have been able to work together to create reasonable policies that balance safety, economic growth and cultural vibrancy. CW

Drop Biscuits, Not Bombs

Decadent dishes abound at Atomic Biscuits.

BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer

Iwas only an up-and-coming locavore when I first stumbled upon the Pig & a Jelly Jar that operated near Liberty Park for more than a decade. It was a perfect time to show up in my life, as chicken and waffles were becoming one of my favorite late-night indulgences and this restaurant had some of the best.

Though it’s a real shame that this breakfast-centric haunt is no longer with us, I think the team at Atomic Biscuits has officially embraced its role as a Southernfried spiritual successor of sorts. Opened just under a year ago, Atomic Biscuits has kept a sense of Southern charm and bodacious portion sizes alive and well on this corner of 400 East and 900 South.

Founded by Jennifer Felton, Atomic Biscuits is a love letter to the cuisine of the deep South, the lynchpin of which is her signature “cathead” biscuits—sonamed because they’re the size of a cat’s head. Though the owners of nearby Tinker’s Cat Cafe wouldn’t lend me a cat so I could truly test this bold claim, it’s still a good bet that these biscuits could dwarf the size of an average domestic shorthair’s cranium.

These biscuits are the foundation of nearly everything at Atomic Biscuits. Available in forms ranging from French toast ($12) to the sandwich known as Keep’n It Classy ($13), these biscuits are perhaps best incorporated into the res-

taurant’s menu of benedicts. Their mammoth size leaves ample room for the chefs to get creative, and there’s not a bad benny in the bunch. The Go’In Southern ($15.50) pairs fried chicken with pimento cheese and gets smothered in a rich gravy, while the Sweet & Sassy ($14) opts for a spicy contrast between sriracha cole slaw and sweet potato butter.

The apple of my eye during my most recent visit was the Fried Bologna Benedict ($15) because, like most of my generation, I have a warm affection for the bologna sandwiches of my youth. Of course, the fried bologna you get at Atomic Biscuit can handily beat the shit out of Oscar Meyer, which is only one of the reasons why this benedict is worth your time. It’s got the rich creaminess of a traditional hollandaise, then gets another layer of silky smoothness from the dijon aioli. In addition to the generous slice of fried bologna, the dish is topped with a poached egg, crispy bacon bits, plenty of cheddar cheese and pickled green tomatoes.

When all of these elements combine between the two halves of a giant biscuit, you get something quite special. At first, I was concerned that the biscuit lacked the sometimes-overpowering flavor of buttermilk, but then you realize that it’s simply a sturdy vehicle for delivering all those great ingredients to your mouth. The biscuit’s texture is perfect for the stacked structure of a benedict and its own subtle flavor lets some of the heavier hitters do the talking. By this, of course I mean the fried bologna and the pickled green tomato. It simply doesn’t get better than a crispy slab of pure meaty richness colliding with gemstones of popping acidity.

Those visiting Atomic Biscuits for the first time should definitely choose from the biscuit menu, but if you like your breakfasts to be on the sweet side, then the restaurant’s Belgian waffles are for you. There are traditional waffle plates like the Plain Jane ($6) with its whipped

butter and syrup, or the Fresh Fruit Waffle ($12) with seasonal fruit and honey butter, but it was the dish aptly named The King ($13) that most caught my eye.

The King consists of a Belgian waffle that gets topped with sliced bananas and two strips of bacon before getting slathered in Nutella. A bit of warm maple syrup is included just in case you need an extra layer of sweetness—which I am not ashamed to admit that I did. The waffle was prepared excellently with a golden-brown exterior that became soft and yielding as it absorbed the syrup and Nutella. Fresh bananas are a great pairing with waffles and Nutella, and honestly, adding two strips of bacon to anything is going to be a win. I did note that the bacon was a little overpowered by the other accoutrements, but not a huge gripe overall. This is breakfast decadence at its most unabashedly awesome.

While the magic of Atomic Biscuits is found in its delightful entrees, don’t skip the restaurant’s drink menu. Beer and mimosas are readily available and there is a wide variety of sugar-loaded coffee beverages as well. I snagged a Caramel Graham Cracker Crunch ($6.25), which is a latte topped with whipped cream, caramel and graham cracker bits. It’s full of toasty graham cracker flavor and made me realize that the restaurant’s coffee menu isn’t one to sleep on.

Salt Lake City has no shortage of brunch options, but Atomic Biscuits is doing a great job of setting itself apart by staying anchored to some seriously sophisticated flavor combos. If you’re the type of person who cringes at the term “doing brunch” but still want to eat waffles in the middle of the day, then Atomic Biscuits just might be for you. CW

2 Row Brewing

73 West 7200 South, Midvale 2RowBrewing.com

On Tap: “Juicequake” Juicy Style IPA

Avenues Proper

376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com

On Tap: Apricaldera (Jalapeño Apricot Wheat Ale)

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

Corner Brew Pub Sugar House 2110 S. Highland Drive, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/wasatch

On Tap:  Top of Main Yuzu Bruzu Wheat Beer

Craft by Proper

1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com

On Tap: I Am The Vvitch - golden ale with pumpkin and spices

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com

On Tap:  Centennial Steamer, California Common Lager

Epic Brewing Co.

825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com

On Tap: Six New Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout Variants

Etta Place Cidery

700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com

On Tap: Imperial Cider, Fig-Tamarind 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

NEW: DK Rice Lager

Heber Valley Brewing

501 N. Main Street, Heber City, UT hebervalleybrewing.com

Freshly Canned: Lone Pine Pale Ale 6.2%

Helper Beer

159 N Main Street, Helper, UT  helperbeer.com

Hopkins Brewing Co.

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com

On Tap: Chili Mangose

Kiitos Brewing

608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com

On Tap: Winter Ale, Kernza Lager

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

Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake LevelCrossingBrewing.com

On Tap: Hefe Goldbloom Hefeweizen

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

On Tap: Vienna 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: Quince 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: Yes Jeff! - Hazy IPA 5%

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: Marvin the Marzen

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

On Tap: Marvin the Marzen

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: Jeffeweizen

Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com

On Tap: Peacan Pie Ale

SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com

On Draft: Master Control Program NIEPA

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: Scion Cider Penpal 6.2% ABV

Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek https://secondsummitcider.com

On Tap: Coconut Stout Cider 7% ABV

Shades Brewing 1388 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City ShadesBrewing.beer

New Batch: Raspberry Pistachio

Sour Ale

Shades On State

366 S. State Street, Salt Lake City Shadesonstate.com

On Tap: Six Wheat Under Hefeweizen

Silver Reef

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

Squatters Corner Pub – Valley Fair

3555 Constitution Blvd, West Valley City squatterscornerpub.com

On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Dog Lake Pale Ale

Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/squatters On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Big U Pilsner

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

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

Strap Tank Brewery, Springville

596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com

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

TF Brewing

936

BEER NERD

The Mimics

Two beers whose flavors evoke familiar treats.

BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer

Red Rock - The Ginger Experience: Red Rock took their popular Ginger Gose, amped-up the alcohol from 5.0 to 6.3 percent, and laid it down for a few months in whiskey barrels. When I saw the combination of whiskey and ginger on the label, my immediate reaction was, “This will be like a whiskey and ginger beer cocktail.” Then I saw the base beer was a German Gose and suddenly became leery of the blend, anticipating a clash of aggressive flavors rather than a harmonious pint.

However, this brew immediately put my apprehension to rest, starting with an aroma that is both intriguing and inviting. The nose is dominated by a wonderfully clean and authentic pickled ginger aroma, offering a spicy, tangy zest that feels fresh and vibrant. Woven just underneath is a hint of whiskey, not of harsh alcohol, but of the barrel itself—a gentle suggestion of warmth, vanilla and aged wood.

The first sip confirms that the taste follows the aroma with surprising results. That pickled ginger thing is nice, landing on the palate with a lively and refreshing character. It delivers just the right amount of zip, a pleasant tingle that awakens the senses without becoming overwhelming or acrid. It’s a remarkable use of a difficult ingredient.

Just as the ginger’s spice makes its presence known, the barrel character steps in to offer a nice counterpoint. The whiskey is complementary, with mostly vanilla and oak showing up to the party. These softer, sweeter notes cushion the ginger’s sharp edges, creating a rounded and incredibly smooth experience. The finish is clean, with a lingering warmth of spice and a hint of oak.

Verdict: I wasn’t sure I’d jive with this,

but damn, it’s so tasty. It’s well-balanced, proving that bold and unconventional ingredients can create something truly special when handled with care.

Grid City - Kaffir Lime Leaf Key Lime Nitro Cream Ale: This one is part of Grid City’s Sentence Series of beers. They tend to have extremely long and descriptive names that are essentially full sentences rather than standard titles.

For me, this beer evokes the joy of a summertime ice cream. It presents itself as a liquid dessert and delivers on that promise from the very first sniff. The aroma is a straightforward duet of bright, zesty lime and soft, sweet vanilla. It’s a clean and inviting scent, reminiscent of key lime pie filling swirled into a creamy meringue, signaling that you’re in for a treat.

The taste very much follows the nose, creating a satisfying experience. The lime is definitely there, offering a pleasant citrus tang that cuts through the richness, though it’s not a huge, puckering lime profile. Instead, it acts as a zesty accent note in a composition dominated by a dessert-like sweetness. This is quite creamy, with an almost vanilla ice cream vibe, coating the palate in a smooth layer that feels luxurious. What’s particularly impressive is how this texture is achieved: On top of the nitrogen conditioning, the brewers used a “cream extract” which has no lactose and is vegan-friendly, making this rich experience accessible to a wider audience without sacrificing an ounce of body.

Verdict: Ultimately, this kind of beer reminds me of a “creamsicle,” except the familiar orange is replaced with a zesty splash of lime. It’s a great parallel. While it certainly leans to the sweet side, it manages to stay balanced and avoids becoming cloying. It’s a fun, creative and undeniably yummy brew that perfectly captures the essence of a beloved frozen treat.

Kaffir Lime Leaf Key Lime Nitro Cream Ale is only on nitro at Grid City Beer Works in 5-oz. pours. The Ginger Experience is available now at all Red Rock locations, but if you want some to-go, visit Red Rock’s Beer Store. As always, cheers! CW

the BACK BURNER

BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer

Kodiak Donates 50,000 Meals To Families

This holiday season, Park City-based Kodiak (kodiakcakes.com) will be teaming up with the Joe Burrow Foundation (joeburrow.org) to donate 50,000 healthy meals and snacks to families in need across the country. Perhaps best known for its pancake mixes, Kodiak has been creating products that combine convenience with high-quality ingredients. The Joe Burrow Foundation was founded by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with a mission to support underprivileged and underserved communities. This partnership will provide families with high-protein Kodiak products, and will be working with a range of local partners to help these products reach as many communities as possible.

Big Willies Supports Animals In Need

With Giving Tuesday right around the corner, Big Willies Sports Bar (bigwillieslounge.com) will be teaming up with Salt Lake County Animal Services for a fundraising bingo night. The event is part of the county animal service initiative to raise $10,000 to help contribute to the organization’s Animal Fund, which helps sick and injured animals get the medical help they need. Proceeds from the bingo night will be donated to the Animal Fund and the evening will be full of themed cocktails, prizes and giveaways. The event will take place on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at Big Willies.

Crispy Cones Expands in Utah

Crispy Cones (crispycones.com), a national franchise that swaps waffle cones for a swirl of crispy pastry dough, has recently announced plans to continue its expansion in Utah. For the uninitiated, a Crispy Cone is a riff on the trdlnek, a toasty, buttery twist that is filled with caramel or Nutella before getting a soft serve twist and fresh toppings. Its Layton and Logan locations are going strong, while its Provo location reopened under new management. The brand recently opened a Draper location near Bangerter Crossing, and there are plans to open a location in West Valley in January of next year.

Quote of the Week: “Just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate.”

Music Mailbag

November 2025

New music from Leetham, Cory Mon and more.

BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl

The holiday season is upon us, and as gifts are being given out, local musicians also continue to give us the gift of their awesome music. Here are some new tunes to add to your libraries while you’re enjoying the cozy winter festivities.

Leetham, A Night in Hollywood: Singer/songwriter Leetham’s latest EP release explores life, mental illness, love and loss. The EP opens with “Hollywood,” a seemingly fun and carefree track about someone moving to the golden coast, hoping to make it big. The tone shifts at the end, however, setting up the narrative for the rest of the EP. Leetham has always been vocal about their mental health struggles, and those are explored further in the following track “Lost My Head.” It has an appealingly dark new wave/synth pop sound that lends itself well to the heavier-toned lyrics. Leetham is known for their well-crafted pop melodies and that continues on this new EP. You can’t go wrong with any of Leetham’s music, but A Night in Hollywood has stepped up in terms of narrative and craftsmanship. Leetham’s latest EP is streaming everywhere now.

Floatinground, Seventh Sense: Ogden band Floatinground have been on the scene for a while, charming listeners with their alt/

indie sound that will keep you revisiting over and over. Their 2024 debut EP Chasing Bunnies is a lovely introduction to the band and features one of their best tracks, “Cat Song.” Now in 2025, they have released their first full-length album, Seventh Sense, which allows their great sound and personality to shine. Floatinground takes inspiration from 1990s radio rock and old-school jam bands, but also takes influence from modern indie/alt groups. The album opens with the title track, offering a mellow beat and whimsical lyrics.

“I’m just a tangent riding tandem / Shoelaces tangled in the chain / And I’ve been caught up in your fandom / No master plan I feel the same,” singer/guitarist Ether Warburton sings. The pace picks up with the previously-released “Panicka” and “Small Talk,” the latter being a standout on the album. If you’re looking for music with a unique indie sound, you can’t go wrong with Floatinground. Seventh Sense is streaming everywhere now.

Scott Lippitt, “All n All”: You can always count on singer/songwriter Scott Lippitt to bring lively, unique and lyrically-poignant music that is perfect for any playlist. The latest in his library is “All n All,” “an indie lip balm made to calm,” according to the track description. “Music has always been a salve for society, and the newest single from Utah’s Scott Lippitt is set to soothe,” it continues. The track opens with a peaceful guitar melody with the sound of birds chirping in the background, making it feel like a cool, early morning out on the porch. “I set my alarm across the room / It’s a trick for getting up in the morning / I lay there and let it ring / Until annoyance gets the best of me,” Lippitt sings. He has a way of writing about everyday thoughts and sensations that make his music feel like you’re talking to a friend about your complicated inner emotions. He often also writes about things that many

may not talk about out loud with others, so it has a relatability factor that makes it feel more personal. Check out Lippitt’s latest track, streaming everywhere now.

Cory Mon, “Big Big Love”: “The song is a call for more love, more kindness and the broadcasting and expressing of both. And where does such start?

With loving oneself, otherwise known as ‘self-love,’” singer/songwriter Cory Mon says of his new single “Big Big Love.” Mon is an energetic, fun, lively and transparent artist who wears his heart on his sleeve. His 2024 album You Don’t Know Me explored themes of getting to a low point in life, but ultimately about the healing that comes after all the hurt. Aside from recordings of live performances, “Big Big Love” is his first single released since that album, and it’s starting out

MUSIC

in a place of love instead of having to work back up to it. “The whole ‘love the hell out of yourself, first’ thing. Not surprising, it’s only helped me love life, love my daughter, love the humans in my life, love this crazy ass world, exponentially more,” Mon posted on Instagram. “It’s been ‘the ultimate rosecolored glasses,’ and I don’t intend to ever take these things off, cause it’s rosy AF up in here. It’s been the unhurried crystallization of a formula, an understanding, a way of processing and seeing the world and myself. It’s been brewing and stewing, a result born from a cacophony of my life happenings, traumas, wins and losses.” The new single is a funky, bright and animated track that will immediately have you moving to the groove. “Big Big Love” is the first single of a new album scheduled to drop in May 2026, so it’ll be exciting to see how this track fits in with the others. Check out “Big Big Love” anywhere you listen to music. CW

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

BEST BAR IN UTAH!

GREAT FOOD

MUSIC PICK S

Lounge Monkey, Inversion, Sunnies @ Kilby Court 11/28

If you need to burn off some Thanksgiving calories, this fun lineup of locals is just what you need. At the top of the bill is psych/grunge band Lounge Monkey, who are celebrating the release of their newest album. According to their website, the group has been heavily inspired by greats like Sonic Youth, Unwound and Pixies. From that influence comes their take on the alt/rock genre, which sprinkles elements of those classic ’90s sounds throughout their music. Since March, the band has steadily been releasing new singles that lead up to this new album. The most recent, “Nowhere Land,” is an exciting, crunchy and heavily-distorted track that starts slow, but builds to that iconic grunge sound. You can definitely hear the ’90s influence, but it doesn’t sound like a copy of the music of that time—Lounge Monkey brings their own personality to the music, making it a fun discovery on one hand, but one that also brings a bit of nostalgia to older listeners on the other. Joining the party is SLC group Inversion, who bring a similar alt/grunge/rock sound that will pair perfectly with Lounge Monkey’s. Sunnies are also coming out with their indie/ garage sound that will nicely round out this bill. Come catch these great locals on Friday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. Head to 24tix.com for tickets. (Emilee Atkinson)

Black Friday Reggae Party

Glomp Rave

Bleu

MUSIC PICK S

Royal Bliss @ The Depot 11/29

Medium-size venues packed out with bands that play rocking music are a treat. In Salt Lake City, it seems every November you can count on local stalwarts Royal Bliss to throw their annual Thanksgiving bash and blow the roof off said venue. Before they were selling out coast-to-coast shows and touring like the road warriors they are, Royal Bliss cut their teeth right here in the Beehive State. After six full-length studio albums, being signed to Capitol Records in 2009 and experiencing the ups and downs of the industry, they still retain their freshness by connecting with the masses as they write and sing about the struggles that so many have. “I mean, my lyrics have always been extremely honest, I think, where I’m honest with the fans and it’s also like a therapy,” guitarist Neal Middleton told Unsung Melody. “It’s definitely thoughts that need to get out of my head. It’s nice to be able to get up on stage every night and let them out, you know, where the audience is my personal therapist.” Royal Bliss is superb and engaging in entertainment terms, plus has a catalog of songs laced with riff-fests that leave you grinning until the next day. As a live band they are a complete experience, so I’m not sure there’s ever been a better time to see them. Catch this iconic local band at The Depot on Saturday, Nov. 29. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets for the 21+ show are $35 at ticketmaster.com. (Mark Dago)

MUSIC PICK S

Maddy O’Neal @ Eleven SLC 11/29

Based in Denver, Colo., Maddy O’Neal brings a certain flavor of funk and soul to her deep bass music. Her productions are niche—they mix soulful melodies with glitchy hip-hop that really pulls together fans of electro-soul and bassheads. O’Neal is a self-taught producer and DJ who even in her earliest music like “Freshies (Artifakts Remix)” showed a natural talent, while her more recent single “Zest Please” displays her ability for clean bass and that hip-hop flare. This year, she played at the coveted Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the performance including her well-known EP Back to Now, featuring fellow producers Lizzy Jane and MOONZz. The lyrics, “Take me back to here / Take me back to now / All we have is now” are layered with the funky, wobbly bass that helps you simultaneously get lost in the song but also reminds you to be present in the moment. It’s the perfect juxtaposition of knowing life is fleeting, and coming to that acceptance allows for serenity. In her interview with Amplify Music Magazine, she describes her music as “dirty funky bass music, but make it pretty.” Overall, it’s feel-good bass music where you can dance the night away and feel uplifted for days and days afterwards. This show is hosted by Echelon Presents and takes place on Saturday, Nov. 29 at the vibrant new nightclub and event center Eleven SLC (609 S. State Street). Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets cost $30 at tixr.com. (Arica Roberts)

The Mountain Goats @ Metro Music Hall 11/29

Singer-songwriter John Darnielle launched The Mountain Goats in Claremont, Calif., in 1991. The band was saddled with the “lo-fi” label thanks to early releases Zopilote Machine (1994) through 2000’s The Coroner’s Gambit, as well as earlier cassette-only releases. While those ’90s albums did sport a rough-hewn, ramshackle and DIY approach, they earned positive critical notices. But beginning with Tallahassee (2002), the group signed with hip U.K. based label 4AD—and with that came a marked upgrade in production values. Equally importantly, the Mountain Goats became a proper (indie folk, alternative

rock, what-have-you) band rather than simply a Darnielle project. His conceptually-focused songwriting on that record earned some of the group’s best reviews yet and ushered in a seemingly unending succession of superb albums. Especially notable is the band’s 2023 alt-rock concept album/rock opera Jenny From Thebes, which came after the band moved to North Carolina and signed with Merge Records in 2006. Their 23rd studio album, Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan was released in early November and looks to continue further the band’s status as one of the most intelligent, compelling and fascinating acts on the modern musical landscape. The group comes to Metro Music Hall on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets for this 21+ show were sold out at press time through 24tix.com. (Bill Kopp)

Celtic Woman @ Abravanel Hall 12/2

Their name says it all. The group consists of three remarkable singers and a fiddler, sharing songs reflecting their Irish origins. Formed 20 years ago for a one-off event in Dublin, their international reputation grew after the concert was repeatedly aired on PBS. They’ve recorded 20 albums, which have garnered total sales of 10 million records worldwide, achieved platinum-level in nine countries and gained them singular status as Billboard ’s World Album Artist of the Year no less than six times. Twelve of those albums have debuted at #1 on Billboard ’s World Album chart and two debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard ’s influential album chart. What’s more, their 2016 album release Destiny was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best World Music Album. Although the lineup has changed over the years, the group remains consummate ambassadors of their native country’s heritage, culture and musical tradition with a repertoire that encompasses both Irish classics and stirring originals. A decidedly tight-knit ensemble, their concerts spotlight them both individually and collectively, as well as with the full accompaniment of traditional dancers, bagpipers and a band of musicians performing on Celtic instruments. Given the fact that they’ve performed in over 23 countries on six continents and have played for three U.S. presidents, we can claim the luck of the Irish by having them come here. Celtic Woman’s Celtic Christmas Tour comes to Abravanel Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $50 - $155 at usuo.org. (Lee Zimmerman)

free will ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

The Japanese word mushin means “no mind.” In Zen Buddhism, it refers to the state of flow where thinking stops and being takes over. When you are moving along in the groove of mushin, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up. You disappear into the action itself. Athletes refer to it as “the zone.” It’s the place where effort becomes effortless, where you stop trying and simply love the doing. In the coming weeks, Aries, you can enjoy this state more than you have in a long time. Ride it with glee!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

For the foreseeable future, salmon are your spirit creatures. I’ll remind you about their life cycle. They are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean and live there for years. Then they return, moving against river currents, up waterfalls, past bears and eagles. Eventually, they arrive at the exact stream where they were born. How do they do it? They navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field and their sense of smell, remembering chemical signatures from years ago. I think your own calling is as vivid as theirs, dear Taurus. And in the coming weeks, you will be extra attuned to that primal signal. Trust the ancient pull back toward your soul’s home.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

What if procrastination isn’t always a problem? On some occasions, maybe it’s a message from your deeper self. Delay could serve as a form of protection. Avoidance might be a sign of your deep wisdom at work. Consider these possibilities, Gemini. What if your resistance to the “should” is actually your soul’s immune system rejecting a foreign agenda? It might be trying to tell you secrets about what you truly want versus what you think you should want.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

I’m only slightly joking when I recommend that you practice the art of sacred bitching in the coming days. You are hereby authorized to complain and criticize with creative zeal. But the goal is not to push hard in a quest to solve problems perfectly. Instead, simply give yourself the luxury of processing and metabolizing the complications. Your venting and whining won’t be pathological, but a legitimate way to achieve emotional release. Sometimes, like now, you need acknowledgment more than solutions. Allowing feelings is more crucial than fixing things. The best course of action is saying “this is hard” until it’s slightly less hard.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

The Chinese concept of yuanfen means that some connections are fated. Certain people were always meant to cross your path. Not soulmates necessarily, but soul-evokers: those who bring transformations that were inscribed on your destiny before you knew they were coming. When you meet a new person and feel instant recognition, that’s yuanfen. When a relationship changes your life, that’s yuanfen. When timing aligns impossibly but wonderfully, that’s yuanfen. According to my analysis, you Leos are due for such phenomena in the coming weeks—at least two, maybe more. Some opportunities appear because you pursue them. Others were always going to arrive simply because you opened your mind and heart.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Let’s talk about a forest’s roots. Mostly hidden from sight, they are the source of all visible life. They are always communicating with each other, sharing nourishment and information. When extra help is needed, they call on fungi networks to support them, distributing their outreach even further. Your own lineage works similarly, Virgo. It’s nutrient-rich and endlessly intertwined with others, some of whom came long before you. You are the flowering tip of an unseen intelligence. Every act of grounding—breathing deeply, resting your feet, returning to gratitude—is your body’s way of remembering its subterranean ancestry. Please keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. I believe you will thrive to the degree that you draw from your extensive roots.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You are currently in a phase when it’s highly possible to become both smarter and wiser. You have a sixth sense for knowing exactly how to enhance both your intellectual and emotional intelligence. With this happy news in mind, I will remind you that your brain is constantly growing and changing. Every experience carves new neural pathways. Every repeated thought strengthens certain connections and weakens others. You’re not stuck with the brain you have, but are continuously building the brain that’s evolving. The architecture of your consciousness is always under construction. Take full advantage of this resilience and plasticity!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

The coming weeks will be a favorable time to stand near what you want to become. I advise you to surround yourself with the energy you want to embody. Position yourself in the organic ecosystem of your aspirations without grasping or forcing. Your secret power is not imitation but osmosis. Not ambition but proximity. The transformations you desire will happen sideways, through exposure and absorption. You won’t become by trying to become; you will become by staying close to what calls you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Some seeds can remain dormant for centuries, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. The oldest successfully germinated seed was a 2,000-year-old date palm seed. I suspect you will experience psychospiritual and metaphorical versions of this marvel in the coming weeks. Certain aspects of you have long been dormant but are about to sprout. Some of your potentials have been waiting for conditions that you haven’t encountered until recently. Is there anything you can do to encourage these wondrous developments? Be alert for subtle magic that needs just a little nudge.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Orb weaver spiders make seven different types of silk, each engineered for different purposes: sticky silk for catching prey, strong silk for the web’s frame, stretchy silk for wrapping food and soft silk for egg sacs. In other words, they don’t generate a stream of generic resources and decide later what to do with them. Each type of silk is produced by distinct silk glands and spinnerets, and each is carefully tailored for a particular use. I advise you to be like the orb weavers in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Specificity will be your superpower.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Benevolent gossip is the practice of speaking about people not to diminish them but to fondly wonder about them and try to understand them. What if gossip could be generous? What if talking about someone in their absence could be an act of compassionate curiosity rather than judgment? What if you spoke about everyone as if they might overhear you—not from fear but from respect? Your words about others could be spells that shape how they exist in the collective imagination. Here’s another beautiful fact about benevolent gossip: It can win you appreciation and attention that will enhance your ability to attract the kind of help and support you need.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Every 21,000 years, the Sahara Desert transforms into a lush green savanna. It’s due to precession, which is a wobble in the Earth’s axis. The African seasonal monsoon becomes much stronger, bringing increased rainfall to the entire area. The last time this occurred was from about 11,000 to 5,000 years ago. During this era, the Sahara supported lakes, rivers, grasslands and diverse animal and human populations. I’m predicting a comparable shift for you in the coming months, Pisces. The onset of luxuriant growth is already underway. And right now is an excellent time to encourage and expedite the onset of flourishing abundance. Formulate the plans and leap into action.

EMPLOYMENT

IHC Health Services, Inc. (dba Intermountain Health) seeks a Data Architect Senior -Clinical Excellence in West Valley City, UT. This is a hybrid position requiring in-person presence three days per week. Position may telecommute within reasonable commuting distance of West Valley City, UT. Apply at https://imh.wd108.myworkdayjobs.com/ IntermountainCareers or email resume to mary.hansen@imail.org. Salary: $117,645.00 - $127,645.00/yr.

urban LIVING

WITH BABS DELAY

Broker, Urban Utah Homes & Estates, urbanutah.com

Uh oh!

You may or may not remember the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. It was the most severe economic turndown in the U.S. since the Great Depression, which ran from 1929 through the early 1940s.

The Great Depression was caused by a number of factors, including tariffs— like the ones we’re seeing today—bank failures and the overproduction of some material goods. There aren’t any major banks failing right now, but there are many regional banks facing problems due to bad loans they made in the commercial sector.

Zions Bancorporation has reportedly suffered from bad loans recently, which caused a 13% drop this October after they disclosed a $50 million charge-off on loans due to alleged fraud by two specific borrowers.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. School game watcher, often

4. Applies lightly

8. Cause to topple over

13. “What ___ you on?”

14. Records

15. Classic Harlem ballroom that shares its name with a cabbage variety

16. Author Deighton

17. State aquatic bird? [Med school graduate, maybe]

19. Location of a 2025 jewel heist

21. Seesaw requirement

22. “Come Back, Little Sheba” playwright William

23. Award-winning feat

25. World representations?

27. State antlered animal? [“Skedaddle!”]

32. Best-case

33. CIA mind game

34. “Thx,” but slightly more

37. Think events through

38. Puffed, in a way

39. Don’t go anywhere

40. Aleppo’s land (abbr.)

When the economy is in trouble, we see foreclosures rise. Various sources are reporting that 900,000 homeowners in the country owe more than what their homes are worth, and foreclosure filings were up 19% in October, compared to 2024. Many of these foreclosures are happening to people who bought in the last 3 years at much higher interest rates than what we saw during COVID.

Job losses are also way up (despite the government not providing raw data about this recently) and there’s increasing insurance and medical expenses, as well as overall higher prices in grocery stores. We all feel the pinch: average orange juice prices are up 29% and ground beef is up 14%.

Everything seems to cost more and food prices hurt the most vulnerable— they’ve gone up 32.1% since 2019 due to corporate greed, supply chain disruptions and tariffs.

If you’re in trouble with your mortgage, the best advice is to call your lender and be honest with them and tell them you’re in trouble and work out a payment plan.

They aren’t going to come and take your home just because they sent you a nasty letter or left nasty messages on your voicemail. There are laws that protect you from harassment and laws regulating how the bank can take your property back.

When you signed your loan documents at the close of escrow, you most likely signed a trust deed or deed of trust (same thing), wherein the lender obtains rights that secure repayment of the loan. It’s a legal/judicial process and can take 6 months or longer to take your property back.

However, during the Great Recession I saw that in many cases it was taking a year or two, and anytime during that period a homeowner could refinance or sell the property and be done with their financial mess with the lender.

The better option is to have your realtor negotiate a “short sale” with your lender, which allows you to avoid foreclosure. Basically, you get the lender to agree to forgive some of the debt, with most of the debt being paid off, if not all of it. But be mindful that foreclosures really wreck your credit for a long time. ■

10. Yet more advantageous

41. U.K. equivalent of an Oscar

42. Cheesemaking byproducts often turned into powder

43. State rodent? [Unit of weight for gems]

46. Follow closely

48. Declined

49. Peru’s capital

50. No. on an invoice

53. Big name in planes

57. State wild bovine? [Singer Roy]

60. Caviar, basically

61. Former Israeli prime minister Shimon

62. Antilles resort island

63. Poem of high praise

64. Get rid of

65. Spots

66. Pince-___ (old-style spectacles)

DOWN

1. ___ of America

2. Dirt cake cookie

3. Restaurant handout

4. Make a meal of

5. Connecting word

6. “I meant nothing ___!”

7. BBQ side

8. “Born in the ___” (Springsteen song)

9. Outdoor areas

11. Norway, in Norway

12. Forces of acceleration

14. “The Aeneid” poet

18. Rotten

20. Free of animal products

24. Warning

26. Slice off, as a branch

27. High rollers

28. One way to sit by

29. Modern car feature to assist backing up safely

30. Invite out for

31. Overreactive response to when someone swears or sings badly, maybe

35. “___ con Dios!”

36. 1993 puzzle-based video game

38. Island in the South China Sea

39. Malt shop order

41. Rain-___ (gumball brand)

42. “Stranger Things” actress Ryder

44. Some bits of wisdom

45. Powerful people

46. Ski surface

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

NEWS of the WEIRD

New World Order

When Philadelphia roommates Jessica Yang, 33, and Nicole DeNardo, 31, moved in together in 2022, they both cared for Yang’s cat, Gary. Later, as Yang tackled a home renovation project, DeNardo offered to care for Gary, People magazine reported. However, Yang learned that DeNardo had changed Gary’s last name at the vet and added herself to his microchip information, making it seem as if she was his owner. DeNardo argued that the vet’s office made the name change on their own, and she was only trying to protect him by adding her name to the emergency information. Still, she and Yang clashed when it was time to move out of their apartment about who was the real owner. “She said I was unfit to be a pet parent,” Yang said. In December 2024, Yang sued DeNardo (to the tune of $20,000), and on Nov. 5, the court ruled in favor of Yang because she had originally bought the cat. “I just hope he’s OK and has all the things he needs, and is living a good life,” DeNardo said.

The Tech Revolution

In San Francisco, where self-driving taxis are now ubiquitous, one rider recorded a video during his early November journey in a Tesla Robotaxi, KRON-TV reported. The Tesla taxis are required to have a “safety driver”—a human who sits behind the wheel but doesn’t drive. And while that just makes all sorts of sense, if the driver isn’t awake, it’s not much use. “The safety driver literally fell asleep at least three times during the ride,” the passenger said. “Each time, the car’s ‘pay attention’ safety alert went off and the beeping is what woke him back up.” The rider waited a week to post the video on Reddit, as he gave Tesla a chance to respond. In the meantime, the California Public Utilities Commission said it is “aware of the video and taking follow-up actions to gather more information.” The rider chose Waymo for his return trip.

Government in Action

Matthew Thornhill, a St. Charles County (Missouri) Circuit judge, has been suspended and will be banned from holding judicial offices in Missouri, Fox2NowTV reported on Nov. 19. Thornhill was found to have engaged in several acts of misconduct, including discussing politics from the bench, but his most notable overstep was occasionally wearing a large plastic Elvis wig and sunglasses while presiding over the court. Thornhill said he was trying to “add levity” and relax people, but he can see how his actions affected the solemnity of the proceedings. He admitted to the charges against him and waived his right to an appeal, and with that, Elvis has left the building. (Thank you, thank you very much.)

It’s Good To Have a Hobby

Martin Stroby, 42, of Helsingborg, Sweden, has earned a Guinness World Record for the dubious achievement of stuffing matches in his nostrils, United Press International reported on Nov. 18. The previous record was 68 wooden matches; Stroby was able to shove 81 into his nose. “I discovered I could both stretch my nostrils a lot and also ignore the pain from putting all those matches in there, so I would say I’m a natural,” Stroby said. “As a father I want my children to look up to me in the same way I look up to my father.”

It’s a Mystery

On Nov. 18, Paige Batten got a call about a home she had for sale in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Local 3-TV reported. The potential buyers wondered when Batten would be replacing the driveway at the home, which Batten hadn’t planned on. Then she learned that the day before, at least three trucks had been at the home, including two backhoes and a dump truck. Neighbors assumed that Batten had contracted for the driveway to

be removed, but, neighbor April Renner said, “Somebody unfortunately stole it somehow, which is bizarre.” Days later, Batten heard from a local concrete company, which said it had been given the address by a scammer posing as a legit customer. The company poured Batten a new driveway free of charge.

Bright Idea

When your seniors can’t get out much anymore, why not bring the party to them? That’s what one retirement home in Kunheim, France, has done. The Roseliere home has opened a pub to the public after obtaining a liquor license, RTL Today reported on Nov. 19. The bar opens before lunchtime and residents say they love it.

“It makes us see things in a more positive light!” said Colette Knoery, 96. Director Robert Kohler said the gathering spot aims to foster intergenerational exchanges and provide a sense of community. “Contacts are being made, and that’s the kind of thing we’re looking for, that extra touch of soul that we want to bring to our residents,” he said. Now, in the nearby town of Barr, a similar project is underway. Sante!

Buyer Beware, or What’s in a Name

United Press International reported on Nov. 20 that a talking teddy bear called Kumma has been pulled from retail shelves after the AI-powered toy ventured into questionable topics. A group of researchers from the U.S. and Canada held conversations with Kumma and found it easy to get the $99 bear to discuss sexually explicit topics including spanking, roleplay and BDSM. The researchers said Kumma would take a particular topic and “run with it, simultaneously escalating in graphic detail while introducing new sexual concepts of its own.” The bear also offered advice about where to find sharp knives in the house. CEO of FoloToy Larry Wang said his company is “conducting an internal safety audit.”

Glutton for Punishment

Andre McKechnie, 54, is currently serving a life sentence for murder in Port Phillip Prison in Victoria, Australia; but just because he’s doing hard time doesn’t mean that McKechnie thinks it’s fair to do without the ... finer (?) ... things. To that end, the inmate is suing the Victoria Department of Justice and Community Safety—as well as Corrections Victoria, the private company that manages the prison—to lift their ban on Vegemite. Yes, the thick, brown, shiny, yeast-based paste that former U.S. President Barack Obama once tried and called “horrible” is an amenity that the convicted murderer claims helps him to “enjoy his culture as an Australian.” Vegemite was apparently banned in Victoria prisons in 2006, after officials determined that some prisoners were using its strong odor to hide contraband drugs from narcotic detection dogs. CNN reports that McKechnie’s case is scheduled for trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria next year.

Only in Canada

On Nov. 11, an unnamed 36-year-old man entered a bus in Hamilton, Ontario, while the driver was taking a short break outside, Fox5-TV reported. Then the man drove off, with all the passengers still inside. He drove around, making stops to let people off and on, and even denied one person trying to board without a bus pass. Police followed the bus and eventually took the rogue driver into custody, but praised his skills: “There was not a ding on the bus,” said Trevor McKenna of the Hamilton police. “He did a great job.” He was charged with theft over $5,000, possession over $5,000, obstructing police and driving while prohibited.