The Caffe Ibis roasting plant in Logan has been an integral part in shaping Utah’s coffee landscape for more than 30 years, including the last decade's coffee revolutions.
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UMOCA creates a space for community communications with 'For Freedoms'
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Petersen Art Center teaches anyone can be an artist.
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If you’re like me, your norm on the first day of the year is writing 17 bulleted lists detailing how this year will be different. You’re thinking about finances and trips, but more than that, you’re thinking about your body and overall health and, alas, another chance to start over. I don’t know about you, but this year, I am done starting over.
The challenge in adapting the starting over mentality is that it allows room for us to give up. Fitness isn’t about conforming to outdated stereotypes, it’s about movement. Movement keeps us healthy, reduces pain and stress, helps us sleep better and manage our mental wellbeing, boosts confidence, and even helps us make new friends.
Kellie Van Dyke, owner of Align Fitness Studio in SLC, is helping to change the conversation around distorted fitness idealization. The natural lighting and meditative color palate of Align’s intimate space greet visitors with a welcoming presence, making it easy for people to get to know each other.
As Van Dyke states, the hardest part for most people is just walking in the door, “It’s super intimidating if you think about it. You walk into a gym and all eyes are on you at a time when you might not feel as strong or have the same level of confidence as you would when you’re consistent.”
If you’ve been wanting to give a gym a try but feel intimidated, try a smaller studio where instructors take the time to get to know each of their clients personally to help them get moving and start to feel better. “The advantage of coming to a smaller studio like Align is that our instructors are trained to work with each client on an individual basis. They work with you no matter what level of fitness you’re at and each class is designed for students of all levels.”
The benefit of group fitness is that you’re in it together and you help each other get through. And, the important thing is, we’re actually moving. “After COVID, we realized we all need creative connection and movement for our mental health and not just for our physical bodies. Any kind of movement any day, even if it’s just a walk, can make us feel mentally and physically stronger.”
This story was published in the January/February 2022 issue of Salt Lake. Subscribe for more about life in Utah.
There is only one perfect espresso-based beverage: two shots of Ethiopian Sun-Dried Espresso tamped and layered with 2 teaspoons of raw sugar, infused with 3 ounces of fresh aerated milk and finished with a ½ inch of foam laced with strokes of caramel. Sorry, Starbuckians—those automatic machines aren’t capable of making this drink—for this one, you need to control the tamping in the portafilter.
This might not be your perfect cup, but until you spin a few miles on an espresso machine’s odometer, it’s hard to know which drink is your favorite. For those of us who don’t have the time, or patience, to discover your perfect drink, the first step is to understand espresso basics; after that, the rest is easy.
The most important part of the espresso shot is the quality of the crema—you know, that beautiful rim of golden sunshine resting at the top of the shot glass. This is where the magic happens. If you’ve experienced ordering the same drink and having it taste five different ways, nonexistent or underdeveloped crema is likely the culprit. Finding a superb barista is a challenge within itself—and for that reason, I only order my perfect cup of coffee when I know my barista is good, so when you find one, tip them well!
Jaxsen Layton of Salt Lake Roasting Co. is my barista of choice. He understands what it takes to pour excellent espresso, “For a good espresso shot, it’s extremely important to have all aspects just right, from the coarseness/fineness of the grind, the amount of pressure when tamping and the ratio of water to coffee. Once those are just right, the last thing I look for is a good consistent crema throughout the whole shot. This is my indicator of the quality of my espresso shot.”
Having located a go-to barista like Layton, you have a decision to make. Do you prefer the good ol’ roasty mc-roasted beans the corporate giants have accustomed us to or do you gravitate toward a blonde roast? If you want things sweet and creamy, go for the darker roast; if you prefer your coffee black, take a walk on the lighter side. Knowing your preference is a game changer, so order a demitasse the next time you stop in to see your favorite roaster.
Cappuccino vs. Latte
Don’t be the dud demanding a cappuccino with little foam, no matter how satisfying it is to say the word. If your favorite drink is only topped with an inch of foam or less, next time do your barista a favor and order a latte.
Feeling Too Timid to Try Straight Espresso?
Here are a few less-intimidating options:
Espresso Macchiato
A shot with a scoop of foam on top, also great with a bit of caramel or mocha on the top if you like it sweet.
Espresso Con Panna
A shot with a generous dollop of whipped cream on top.
Undertow
Pick your favorite syrup flavor and cross your fingers your barista knows how to make this. A layering of two pumps of syrup, topped with 1 oz of half and half, with a shot of espresso floated along the top. If your barista can’t float the espresso, it isn’t worth your time. The key to this one is to drink it all at once.
Espresso Affogato
A shot of espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream, usually vanilla.
Read more from Eat & Drink here.
The poet Abe Smith is an otherworldly and uncontainable presence. He thinks the label “hick” suits him just fine. For Smith, hick is a term of endearment, motivated by rural slang; he embodies and relishes the designation, wearing it like well-loved overalls.
When you ask Smith a question, his body rocks back and forth as if to keep the words from crawling out of his throat all at once. His performances have been likened to a display of demonic possession, which you can understand once you’ve met him. The tremoring, vibrato of his delivery is motivated by his rural background. His poetry performances are percussive and unpretty, a dirty Pentecostal revival, paired with spouting and spitting.
Smith doesn’t skirt the tragedies of rural America. His poetry and music bare all, without beautification. He speaks plainly about parts of the country dying at record rates from opioids, meth and suicide, “It’s a rough time for rural America.”
Raised between Wisconsin and Texas, Smith has a deep connection to the land of his youth, returning as often as he can to recharge the spirit. “Revisiting the sites of home and listening to the sounds and phrases of overheard conversations, then letting it ferment in my mind, percolate and then release in the kind of delirious way only poetry can do at some later day.”
Smith describes writers as “sweetly haunted people.” Though he now has a deep community responsible for healing much of his past sorrow, there’s a lingering melancholy from the isolation he experienced in his youth, living in the country without many kids nearby.
“All those feelings are places we often go back to, that place where trauma remains, writing from everly-afraid haunted places, bringing some pizazz to some older rusty times. A beautiful conundrum about life is that we’re alone, and we miss. Then we get into the hubbub of life; sometimes, we yearn for that older, pining, aching place.”
Smith has an impressive gallery of accomplices to both his poetry and music. His most recent book, Destruction of Man, was edited by Chet Weise and published by Jack White’s Third Man Books. He sees Weise as an incredible poet and a musician, who Jack White used to open for, but, he states, that people don’t seem to like to talk about that any longer. One fateful night, Smith was invited to Third Man Records literary deathmatch and Weise was in the audience. The two would reunite at a Tuskaloosa party, reminisce and swap stories, eventually leading to a publication.
In the last few years, Smith has transposed his poetic skills to his other love, music, with his band, The Snarlin’ Yarns, alongside other musicians, several of whom are also Weber State professors. “Sure, there’s been ups and downs; a band is a family, creating a beautiful opportunity for empathy, listening and compromise. It’s been a great thing.” The band is getting ready to record their second album, heading back to Mississippi to Matt Patton’s (of the Drive-By Truckers) recording studio.
When Smith isn’t traveling back to his rural home or practicing with his band, one is likely to find him conducting a poetry class in a tree. His classes at Weber State University approach poetry from a place of play and irreverence. He’s always been someone to encourage poets, particularly his students, to get outside and “catch the poetry.” “We’d stare at the tree and write a poem as an attempt to remind us that poetry doesn’t have to always come from our wounds or joys. Now, our wounds and joys might infiltrate the tree and be a part of the poem they created, but it’s fun to get out and use your eye, taking what is and learning about your community.”
As Ogden’s poet laureate, Smith helps create a community for poets to share their work at Water Witch’s poetry nights in Salt Lake, where you can also see him perform.
Destruction of Man by Abraham Smith (Third Man Books, 2018) available for purchase on Amazon. The Snarlin’ Yarns’ debut LP Break Your Heart is available in vinyl, CD and digital download on their website. Subscribe to Salt Lake magazine.
Inside Studio 32, down the west hallway of The Monarch in Ogden, you’ll find Carli Miller of Wild Meraki Creations practicing her alchemy. She’s creating concoctions of herbs, oils and minerals to craft her line of smudge wands, wreaths, lunar essence and bath brews. Her space feels like a new age apothecary. It oozes the same positive energy inspired by the Greek word “Meraki,” meaning “you leave a piece of yourself and your soul, creativity and love in what you do.”
While Miller mixes her positive potions, her partner Cameron Williams creates handmade paper, “from pulp to the final product.” Williams, a self-taught papermaker, has been hand making archival paper and books for more than 20 years. Meraki Creations blends Williams’ love of paper making and Miller’s love of flora.
Studio 32 is just one space in The Monarch. Located in the heart of the Nine Rails District just off the 24th Street exit, The Monarch brings artists like Miller and Williams together with patrons in a collaborative environment and marketspace designed to support creative business ventures.
While still in the growing phase, Miller feels hopeful about her future in the space. “The Monarch has been planning so many events, which is nice because it brings people to us,” she says. “The First Friday Art Strolls are always a fun night, and I love the Gourmet Market on Saturday mornings.” During Ogden’s First Friday Art Strolls, artists open up their spaces and share their processes while visitors get a behind-scenes look at how art is made. It’s a gallery of painters, woodworkers, photographers and sculptors commingling and mixing their unique alchemies, all available for you to peruse.
The Monarch has also become a creative inspiration in and of itself. Initially, Wild Meraki Creations wasn’t going to feature paper. Big into synchronicities, Miller had just resigned from her job, planning to start her botanical business from her home when she learned about The Monarch’s studio rentals. “All of Cameron’s paper-making equipment was in our garage and my herbs were all over the kitchen,” says Miller. “When we saw The Monarch’s space, we decided it was time to combine the businesses. He’d spent so many years collecting his equipment, and it was clearly important to him. The studio gave us the chance to put it all to use.”
455 25th St., Ogden, 801-893-6604
This story was published in the July/August 2021 issue of Salt Lake magazine. Subscribe here.
Gather your sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, and reusable bags—it’s market time. Farmer’s markets have become a must-do for many summer shoppers, but as the sun reminds us to get outside, think about scheduling in a few market stops you might not have heard much about.
Wild Earth Market
Join Tree Utah this Saturday for a day of art and community at the Wild Earth Market. Utah-based painters, printmakers, and more will be donating 10% of their proceeds towards the environmental group, which has planted hundreds of thousands of trees in Utah public spaces. See some new art, learn about a great cause, and, while you’re there, sign up to volunteer with Tree Utah to assist in new plantings around the state.
Open June 12
623 State St., SLC
Park Silly Sunday Market
After dropping by your go-to coffee shop this weekend, consider a pilgrimage up to Park City for the Park Silly Sunday Market. Park Silly has everything you want from an outdoor market—great music, tasty food and plenty of skilled artisans. For those of us that usually only make it up to Main Street when the concrete is crusted with ice, the summertime mountain views will be worth the drive alone.
Open Sundays through September
780 Main St., Park City
Urban Flea Market
Mark your calendars on the second Sunday, grab a few friends,and drop by the Urban Flea Market at the Gateway. Here you can browse through mercurial stands supplied with vintage goods and antiques, and many sellers can teach you the history behind your purchase. Things move a little slower in the city on the Sabbath, and it’s an excellent time to get downtown, explore and meet some new people.
Open once a month through October
12 W. Rio Grande, SLC
Motor-Vu Swap Meet
Buyers and sellers – come one, come all! Buyers: This place has a little bit of everything, and you never know what randomness you’re about to run into—looking for a new box of pink tiles to repair your 1950s bathroom, or perhaps a Def Leppard Hysteria tour tee? You might find it here among the conglomerate of mish-mashed unexpected goodies. Sellers: Interested in getting rid of the junk that’s been in your basement for the last 15 years that you keep telling yourself one day you’ll use? Grab it—actually, grab the weirdest things you can find around your house if you plan on selling. Seriously, the stranger it is, the more it is likely to sell. Insider tip: although the swap meet is open both Saturday and Sunday, Sunday is the day you don’t want to miss if you’re going to sell. Don’t take my word for it; the selling fee says it all: $5 on Saturday and on Sunday the price ranges from $20-35 depending on how much space you need.
Open weekends
5368 S. 1050 West, Riverdale
Indie Ogden’s Bizarre Market
After you leave the Motor-Vu Swap Meet, make your drive up north worth the trip and head to Ogden for the Bizarre Market. The setting couldn’t be better; housed in The Monarch, this place is filled with endless quirky finds guaranteed to pull your face into non-stop smiles. Meet makers, artisans, up cyclers, non-profits, and grab a bite to eat at the various food trucks.
Open Sundays from 11-4
455 E. 25th St., Ogden
It’s that time of year again when color fills our world outside—from fresh-cut grass to the awakening lilac bushes everything shouts, “spring is here!” But why keep all that scent and color outside? Bring it in and brighten up the place. Indoor plants aren’t only pleasing to our eyes: a study by Kansas State University linked indoor flowers with well-being, and participants from a research group at Rutgers University reported long-term positive effects including a noticeable reduction in depression and anxiety. Flowers are something we give to the people we care for when we want them to feel good and show love. So why not show ourselves some love?
The Utah Cut Flower Farm Association can help you do just that. Created by Heather Griffiths of Wasatch Blooms, they support local flower farms through education, outreach and research programs from farmers to growers alike. They provide a range of different memberships (from as low as $30) to support your new flower hobby. Members become a part of a new community of growers and receive up-to-date research and discounts on gardening supplies and special events. But if you don’t want to grow your own, get out of the house and visit one of the many flower farms in Utah to support a local grower and brighten up your world.
LOCAL FLOWER GROWERS
Apiana Blooms: 385-262-4078, apianablooms.com
Calluna Flower Farms: 4360 S. 3600 West, West Haven, callunaflowerfarm.com
Cherry Petal Flower Farm: Kaysville, cherrypetalsflowerfarm.com
Chateau Monette Flower Farm: Payson, 801-735-1763, chateaumonette.com
Florage Farms: 9971 S. Utah High- way 165, Paradise, 435-760-3641, floragefarms.com
Freckle and Flower Farm: Enterprise, 435-231-3802, freckleandflowerfarm.com
Jershon Farm: 1090 S. 800 East, Lewiston, 84320, 435-755-0310, jershonfarm.com
Lily and Juniper Blooms & Designs: Ogden, 801-678-5666,
lilyandjuniperblooms.com
Three Sprouts Flower Farm: 16 Countryside Rd., Farmington, 801-923-3312, threesproutsflowerfarm.com
Wasatch Blooms: SLC, 435-213- 6565, wasatchblooms.com
Willow Creek Flower and Herb: 1553 Old US 91, Mona
Petal Orchard: 400 S. Holdaway Rd., Vineyard, 801-824-5996
For more ways to fuel your flower addiction, click here.
Since 1991, Historic 25th Street in Ogden has housed one of the country’s coolest little nightclubs. The City Club offers the unique experience of grabbing a cocktail with friends while surrounded by endless Beatles memorabilia. The City Club is a Beatles museum valued at $1 million, featuring a mix of fan art and original artwork purchased by the owners, Heidi Harwood and Bill Parker, with many items donated by fans and patrons of the business.
The aesthetic’s originality is worth the drive alone, but the real magic comes from the family-style atmosphere. If there’s one thing Heidi Hardwood knows how to do, it’s making anyone feel welcome that walks through her doors. Initially, she thought catering was where she’d make her mark on the world but quickly learned she wanted people to come to her. They’ve been coming through her doors for nearly 30 years, but over the last year, keeping those doors open has been a challenge she never anticipated.
To know Heidi is to know a true leader with unshakable strength, never rattled from her foundation. Until COVID. “I’d never cried in front of my staff, not once,” she says. As a former employee of hers, I can attest to this—Heidi is almost scary strong. “It was the March 18, 2020, when we closed completely for six weeks. As I gathered my staff from both The City Club and Brewskis [another club she owns], I couldn’t contain myself; I could not believe where we were. I cried as I told them we had to close,” she recalls, the emotion dripping from her voice while recounting the painful memory.
This isn’t the first time she’s faced a business closing, yet nothing jeopardized her future as a business owner like this pandemic has. However, Heidi isn’t one to lay down and let hardships hold the reins. “To be successful in the bar business, you have to be a rule follower, and that’s what we’ve always done. Here’s the thing: following the rules of the bar business helped us slide right into COVID rules. It’s just another layer. I had a lot of the pieces in place; I just had to modify.”
While her businesses stayed closed, Heidi got to work. “We closed tearfully, but we got busy. We cleaned, painted and got in every nook and cranny.” She enlisted staff in improvement projects and asked them not to leave as she applied for a PPP loan. Initially, Heidi and Bill were able to pay their staff through two pay periods before receiving help, and they were scared. During that time, she took notes about the way the pandemic was affecting her: “Being brave and going into business for ourselves will never feel the same. Those of us who followed our own paths to the American Dream have ended up in a nightmare … Most of us will be out of business when and if real help arrives. What a tragedy for those of us who employ 47% of the working population.”
Luckily for Heidi, Bill, and their staff, help did come. They’d built their business from the ground up and never took a dime from anyone, but this was bigger than anything they’d imagined facing. The PPP loans allowed them to continue to pay their staff and helped them recover financially. Once again, Heidi followed the rules, and because she only spent the money to keep her staff employed, the first round has already been forgiven and won’t need to be repaid.
Heidi is no stranger to the challenges of running a bar in Utah, but many of the pandemic regulations left her scratching her head. In November, the state implemented a rule that bars would need to close their doors at 10 p.m.; however, anyone in the bar business knows that all the money is made between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. “So, I guess Corona comes out at 10:01,” Heidi says with a laugh. Representing businesses suffering from the curfew, the SLC Bar Alliance initiated a lawsuit against the state, which Heidi was ready to support. Luckily the state, perhaps realizing the rule was illogical, withdrew the restriction within three weeks.
Support from the community gave Heidi the reassurance she needed to get through. She feels incredibly grateful to the city of Ogden: “They’ve always let me be myself and I feel completely supported by the city. They’re happy we’re here and they have my back. It’s been that way since I first opened my doors.” For the businesses struggling and not knowing what to do next, Heidi offers some advice. “Hunker down. Stop buying anything you don’t need; limit your menu if you can. I want to say hang in there, but I’ve also been in those spots when I thought we’re not going to make it, and that’s a horrible feeling. I would say reach out to your city and the governor’s office to help direct you to the many resources available. The processes aren’t easy, and you have to be patient, but don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
It’s important to support the businesses that are the backbone of our economy. As The City Club likes to say, “Come together, right now, over drinks!” So, the next time you’re heading down Historic 25th in Ogden, look for Paul, John, Ringo and George’s faces framed in the windows looking over the street. Inside try The Yoko Burger with a Yellow Submarine cocktail, or the PB and John Burger with a Helter Skelter.
The City Club
264 Historic 25th Street, Ogden, Utah
801-392-4447
Read more Bar Fly stories here.
