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Glen Warchol

The late, great Glen Warchol passed away in 2018. His last billet was on the editorial staff here at Salt Lake magazine but his storied career included stops at The Salt Lake Tribune, The Desert News, The New Times and others. His stories haunt this website like ghosts in a machine and we're always happy to see them. RIP Papa Warchol.

Aug 27
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Sundance Snubs Utah?

By Uncategorized

Every fall, Sundance Institute’s PR people fan out to meet with Wasatch Front media to renew the film fest’s vows of love for the state and ask how they can get locals more involved in the screenings.

This year they’ll likely be explaining recent hints from Sundance that it’s not delighted with its host state. The Legislature cut funding from the Sundance Film Festival from $1 million in 2016 to $500,000 for 2017. (The fest generates a gross domestic product of $72.5 million in Utah.)

Sean Means at SLTrib.com learned Sundance will no longer screen movies at Ogden’s historic Peery’s Egyptian Theater during the 2017  festival. (Salt Lake City theaters apparently will still host films and a secondary kick-off party.)

And, for what it’s worth, Sundance gave Entertainment Weekly the first look at the 2017 poster, inspired by a Pablo Picasso photography series. “The 2017 Sundance Film Festival design began with the idea of illumination, and the representation of film as painting with light,” according to the Sundance creators.

sundance.com

The circles of light were DIYed, in part, with camping lights and rubber bands. So Utah.

The background, shot from the Sundance Resort in Provo Canyon, is a silhouette of Mt. Timpanogos, an admission that the festival is actually in Utah, which once a year is allowed to become a distant suburb of LA.

Park City’s ten days of cinema glory are Jan. 19-29, 2017.

Aug 24
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Judge Rules Against Commerce Director

By City Watch

Two former Utah DABC managers are popping champagne, at least metaphorically, over a jury finding that Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce and the guv’s all-purpose hellhound, wrongfully terminated her executive assistant in 2013.

The 3rd District Court jury last week ordered the payment of $240,000 in total damages against Giani, the Commerce Department and the state of Utah for firing her assistant Rebekah Conner and denying her severance benefits. You can read the details in the Deseret News.

Brett Clifford, former DABC wine buyer, and Kerri Adams, a former DABC human resources official, argued in a letter to The Salt Lake Tribune, that similar Giani high-handedness has left the alcohol beverage agency demoralized and adrift:

“We also worked under Giani five years ago while she was interim director at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and both of us resigned in disgust over a shared perception of her abusive and misguided management. We watched in amazement as dozens of employees were falsely accused of corruption, inappropriately interrogated, many questionably fired or forced out. The damage done to that agency under Giani’s administration was significant. It’s no wonder the DABC remains largely dysfunctional to this day.”

Aug 23
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Our Olympic Legacy Lives On.

By Community

Many Utahns, particularly journalists, came away from the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games a bit jaded. After all, the games—though well-run and successful (particularly in light of the Rio games)—also kicked off the never-ending Olympic site-selection scandals that in 2002 tarnished the reputations of dozens of local Oly boosters.

So, was it all worth it?

Based on economics and raising Utah’s profile, it apparently was, as evidenced in a New York Times article this week on “six former host cities worth visiting.” According to Bill Mallon, a founder of the International Society of Olympic Historians:

“For Winter, Lillehammer and Vancouver have been success stories, but probably none more so than Salt Lake City. They have really put the venues to good use.”

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Exposure from the Games turned Utah into an international skiing destination, the article says. Resort visitors have grown from 3 million in 2002 to a record 4.5 million visitors in 2015. Not to mention that we’ve now got the largest ski resort in the U.S. in Park City,

Besides serving as training centers for future olympians, Utah’s sites pack tourists in year around.

“Getting to skate on the same ice as Olympians is an easy sell for locals and tourists, and braver visitors can ride a bobsled (no matter the season). Other summer activities at the park include extreme tubing, zip-lining and adventure courses.”

Aug 23
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Bryce Canyon Fly-in

By Adventures, Outdoors

Private pilots, many in classic aircraft, will be flocking into Bryce Airport this weekend, Aug, 26-27, for the annual fly-in and car show.

The remote airstrip is tucked into the spectacular scenery of Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 20 miles west of Panguich in Garfield County.

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Spectators can book scenic flights and tour the aircraft and car show, beginning at 10 a.m.

For more information: 435-834-5239 or online here.

Aug 22
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Brunch at High Noon

By Eat & Drink

As we all know, brunch was the traditional meal of the West’s gun slingers. Wild Bill famously tucked into an omelet and mimosa before the Shootout at OK Corral, while Doc Holiday always enjoyed a lightly buttered almond croissant (he flossed immediately after) and herb tea before a gunfight.

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To revive these iconic western meals, High West Distillery in Wanship is now serving Sunday brunch.

From 10:45 a.m. through 2:30 p.m., enjoy brisket eggs Benedict, whiskey-soaked French toast and, Doc’s fave, continental fare. Best of all, a complete cocktail menu is available, including Dead Man’s Boots, which actually tastes better than it sounds.

27649 Old Lincoln Hwy., Wanship,  435-649-8300
Aug 22
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The 5K ‘Holy War’

By Adventures, Arts & Culture

For once, fans will have a chance to be more than spectators in Utah’s notorious “Holy War” between BYU and UofU.

Salt Lake Running Company is going to take the schism to the streets with a 5K alleged “fun” run. U hooligans and Y zealots are invited to prove their loyalty with their feet.

“We’re having a little fun with rivalry week,” says Running Company owner Guy Perry, who apparently has little idea of the mayhem he may be unleashing. “We’re expecting hundreds of loyal Utes and BYU fans to go head-to-head in this fun run.”

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Come in your sacred-red or sanctified-blue running gear to Sugar House Park Saturday Sept. 3 at 8 a.m.

The details: Register in advance for $25 (regular price is $40) until Sunday, Aug. 28.  Register at Holywar5K.com. For more information call Salt Lake Running Company at 801-484-9144 or email info@saltlakerunningco.com.

May your Heavenly Father/Mother/In-laws have mercy on your soul.

Aug 13
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AWOL LDS to Pull Ripcord en Masse

By City Watch

It’s one of the more peculiar parts of the Mormon culture—no not the Golden Plates or white salamanders or the everybody-but-women priesthood—stop guessing! It’s the biannual “mass resignation” of the disaffected from Utah’s dominate faith. What seems to be a necessary rite to former Utah Mormons, is somewhat of mystery to the rest of us (Unless we are incarcerated followers of Charles Manson).

manson

Outsiders wonder, if y’all no longer buy into your religion—why don’t you just walk away? Like Lutherans, Episcopalians, Jews, Marxists, Bronies and followers of every other belief do? What appears to be the equivalent of writing a letter to Santa to tell him you no longer believe in him, is apparently a core issue to many “jack”/cultural/fallen-away/”intellectual” Mormons.

“It’s really quite emotional for the people who are there,” Steve Holbrook, an organizer, told Gephart Daily. “It’s always hard, right down to the wire. We see people physically shaking as they sign the forms. For many, it’s just a big part of their lives [that they] are going to walk away from. And for their friends and families, who always hoped they would come back to the church, it’s the last nail in the coffin. (Resigning) is a hard thing to do.”

The mass resignation is scheduled from 2 p.m. Saturday, City Creek Park, (in the afternoon shadow of the LDS Church Office Building), SLC

(BTW, sorry Santa. It’s not you—we’ve just grown apart.)

santacola

Aug 11
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Election advice from Overstock’s Patrick Byrne!

By City Watch, Eat & Drink

Overstock.com’s outspoken CEO recently returned from staring into the abyss—this time due to stage 4 Hepatitis C. Byrne was feeling frisky and healthy, he says, for the first time in 30 years, when he spoke to SLmag.com. Figuring his recent hokey pokey with the Grime Reaper gave him clarity of mind, we gave extra weight to Byrne’s advice on the presidential race:

“Trump is a disgrace to America and Hillary Clinton belongs in an orange jumpsuit.”

Byrne who has fought Wall Street corruption for as long as we can remember, says we should all vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson. You won’t be throwing your vote away symbolically, Byrne says. Here’s the plan: If Johnson could steal enough votes from Don and Hilary, the election would bounce into the notoriously thoughtful U.S. House of Representatives who will make a wise and politics-free pick. Byrne thinks they’ll go for Johnson.

johnquincy

The last time American left it up to the House, we got studmuffin John Quincy Adams—who coincidentally was a secretary of state before becoming president. He was succeeded by Andrew Jackson, whose common-man rhetoric, coif and tan is uncannily similar to Donald Trump’s. (I think we’ve got a conspiracy theory rolling here!)

jackson

Byrne repeated his election advice and also warned of an coming economic meltdown on Fox News later Wednesday.

 

Aug 09
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Make America’s Fav Cocktail: Margarita!

By Eat & Drink

A highly scientific study, as they say on morning teevee shows, has found that Margaritas are the most popular cocktail in America—according to six out of ten bar flies. And, not surprising, top-shelf tequila sales are up 15.5 percent—all tequilas almost 10 percent.

To celebrate this milestone in mixology, we’re going to share SLmagazine‘s take on the classic Margarita:

Ingredients:

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3 parts silver tequila (Yes, 3 shots! And silver because you want that cactus flavor. Use a good Tequila, like Utah-owned Vida.)

1 part fresh-squeezed lime juice (If you can’t squeeze some limes, step away from the cocktail shaker!)

juicer

3/4 part of Cointreau (or a similar non-horrible orange liqueur)

Coinreau

A shaker full of ice

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Directions: Pour the booze over the ice. Shake it like an insane monkey.

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Pour it out, neat, into the smallest stemmed cocktail glasses you can find (pre-chilled, of course, and salt rimmed).

Why the puny cocktail glasses?

boobglasses

First, the Margarita remains icy cold to the bottom of the glass. Then, you pour another icy cold one. Second, these are NOT Utah restaurant limeade Slurpees, you fool! In fact, the DABC has ruled that serving them in large quantities is a war crime. If you use the humungous so-called “Margarita” glasses, you’re party will soon end, with your guests on the floor barking.

Remember: No matter what sized glasses, keep Uber on standby.

Aug 05
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Preview: Sugar House’s 100% Rye Whiskey

By City Watch, Eat & Drink

Sugar House Distillery has added a new whiskey to their lineup: A 100-percent rye made from a 100 percent regionally sourced grain mash. Law only requires half the mash to be rye grain for a whiskey to be classified a rye whiskey and, of course, locally sourcing grain is a part of Sugar House Distillery’s own ethos.

It’s also totally distilled in Salt Lake.

We appreciate that Sugar House has avoided giving this classic American hooch a precious hipster name: They call it Rye Whiskey.

The new whiskey is a “young” rye—not aged long-term—but it makes up for any lack of barrel complexity with a clean, dry, peppery flavor.

Note to non-geeks: You’d never mistake it for bourbon.

Details for whiskey geeks: It’s 86 proof, not chill filtered and barreled in lightly charred new American oak.

You won’t see it in liquor stores until, at best, Christmas. But the first batch is available at the SHD distillery store: 2212 S. West Temple Unit #14, Salt Lake City.

Note to self: There’s not much left.

 

rye whiskey