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Aug 24
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Hidden Peak Provisions in Midway is built on local ingredients

By City Watch

In midway, Hidden Peak Provisions is the taste of the town. I mean that literally. Almost every component of every menu item is homegrown or roasted or harvested or made. “There’s a lot of talent locally—bakers, farmers and ranchers. We’ve got a really self-sustainable valley,” Tom Thibodeau, chef at Hidden Peak Provisions says. “The bread, meat, produce, eggs, coffee and chocolate we use are all produced right here.”

In December 2022, Thibodeau opened Hidden Peak Provisions alongside Sarah Farrell. They’d been operating a private catering business, Hidden Peak Dining, for five years prior. The restaurant specializes in sandwiches, which might sound simple but is anything but. Ask anyone who’s experienced the difficulty of finding that perfect sandwich along the Wasatch Back. It takes a collection of high-quality components to create a legitimately exceptional sandwich. “I just wanted a good sandwich desperately, and I figured other people might, too. So we wanted to offer a space where we could offer our style of food to everybody all the time,” says Thibodeau. 

Photo by Adam Finkle.

Photo by Adam Finkle.

Midway ended up being the ideal landing spot for the new restaurant. “There’s a great small-town vibe in Midway—a little bit of Old Park City floating around—and it’s really becoming a foodie town. I think people appreciate how we work with local providers and our menu reflects that,” says Farrell. 

Add to that, Hidden Peak Provisions has tapped into Utah’s outdoor scene by becoming a hub for some post-adventure refreshment, buoyed by the fact it’s down the road from the Wow Trailhead and the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course. “We want to cater to the après recreation crowd. We’ve extended our hours from 11 a.m. to  7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday so hungry people can come by, and we’ve added a new charcuterie board to the menu with some great items we’re importing from A Priori,” Farrell says.

Most everything is made in-house, but special attention goes to the fermented items scattered throughout the menu. “I’m definitely passionate about fermenting just about everything under the moon,” Thibodeau says. As a native of the Windy City, I’m particularly partial to the giardiniera on the Chicago, a take on the namesake city’s classic Italian Beef. Stop in for a sandwich and enjoy the fermented flight to taste some of Hidden Peak’s funkiest creations. 93 W. Main St., Midway, 203-512-4230, hiddenpeakprovisions.com

Aug 23
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Preview: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo Funtastic Tour w/ Chris Trapper

By Arts & Culture, Music

I’m ready to squeeze the most out of the dog days of summer. So, I’m planning to party in the garden with rock legend Pat Benatar and her musical partner/husband/guitarist Neil Giraldo.  They will be bringing their Funtastic Tour to The Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre on Monday, August 28, 2023. 

Benatar has amassed multiple Grammy Awards and 19 top 40 hits over a career that began in 1979 with her chart topping debut album In the Heat of the Night. Benatar ruled commercial radio and MTV in the ‘80s and ‘90s and proved female rock stars could compete in the male-dominated world of hard-driving rock ‘n’ roll. At age 70, Benatar still plays sold-out shows in large venues across the globe and her music still resonates with fans of all ages. 

I hate to be a “Heartbreaker,” but Benatar & Giraldo stopped playing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” in concert due to the growing gun violence in our society. Benatar said she couldn’t smile and sing those words on stage in light of all the school and mass shootings. Of course that doesn’t mean they won’t “Treat Me Right” and fill their setlist with a good selection of their 18 other hit songs like “Shadows of the Night,” “We Belong,” “Hell is For Children,” or “Love is a Battlefield.” Benatar & Giraldo draw from a comprehensive catalog of great music and I’m certain they’ll get the crowd on their feet from the very first notes of whatever they play.

Last year Benatar & Giraldo were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On Monday, August 28, 2023 we get the rare opportunity to rock out with these two musical icons in an intimate garden setting–with no need for a jumbotron. What a great late summer treat!

Opening the evening is Chris Trapper, a soulful tenor and storyteller. Once the frontman for the early aughts Boston pop band the Push Stars, Trapper has since released nine full-length solo records and tours the country as an acoustic troubadour. Several of his songs have appeared in movie and TV soundtracks.  His song “This Time” appeared on the Grammy nominated soundtrack for August Rush and “Everything Shines” appears on There’s Something About Mary. 

Who: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo w/ Chris Trapper

What: Funtastic Tour

Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

When: Monday, August 28, 2023

Tickets and info: www.redbutegarden.org

Aug 23
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What the Firk? RoHa Brewing Flexes Skill and Creativity with Firkin Casks

By After Dark, Eat & Drink

Typically, a room-temperature beer that’s gone flat is the sign of a fallen soldier. It’s a tragic, careless act of waste that invokes nauseating memories cleaning up the morning after a rager. So, you can imagine my surprise when I learned of a traditional brewing practice with a specific goal to produce barely carbonated and highly flavorful beer. RoHa brewing is one of many craft Utah breweries embracing the art of firkin, their weekly firkin nights allow both consumers and brewers to venture into uncharted flavor territories. 

Utah Breweries

A firkin is a specific size of cask equal to one-quarter of a barrel, or 72 pints. Originating in the Netherlands over a century ago, the British would use firkins to transport beer to the mainland without refrigeration. The process is simple; first, juvenile beer is added to the firkin with hops, sugars or other flavoring additives. Once sealed, the live yeast eats the sugars and produces natural carbonation. Beer from a firkin doesn’t undergo post-fermentation, pasteurization or filtering, and it doesn’t receive any additional artificial carbon dioxide that is typically used to create beer’s telltale fizziness. Instead, the light carbonation in firkins gives way to a smoother, more velvety mouthfeel. 

While they don’t resemble the frothy pours we’re used to out of a tap, craft brewers like RoHa are using firkins to bring out nuanced and delicate flavors. Rob Phillips, who founded RoHa brewing back in 2017 with partners Chris Haas and Josh Stern, introduced the brewery’s firkin program four years ago. “We tap a new cask every Wednesday, it’s called ‘Firkin Hump Day’,” Phillips says. “We’ve probably done over 200 firkins by now.” RoHa’s brewing team uses a smaller five-gallon firkin called a pin, filling it with beer on hand that is either partially or fully fermented. “We can infuse it with anything we want, anything from graham crackers to gummy bears to normal hops and real fruit,” Phillips explains. The possibilities are endless, and tend to be seasonal. Autumn firkins have included candy corn, cinnamon bear and mexican hot chocolate, while warm-weather batches have consisted of lemon cake, chili lime mango, and cactus fruit.

The small-batched, experimental nature of firkin brews are an ideal playground for brewers like Karsen Moon, the head brewer at RoHa. “I get to mess with flavors through firkins that can end up becoming more staple beers.” RoHa’s recently-released fruited IPA ‘Hoomba Bus’ started out as a firkin, now the guava and pineapple IPA is a delightful canned brew enjoyed on summer hikes and strolls. You don’t have to be an expert like Moon to experiment with firkins, home brewers can also let their imagination run wild with the DIY casks. Phillips points out one slight disadvantage: “The biggest challenge is that once you tap it, you have to drink it all.” We recommend tapping your first home-brewed firkin with a group of beer lovers. 

Beer hobbyists and skilled brewers alike are drawn to firkins, and so is the average consumer. Each wild new flavor combination is totally ephemeral—once it’s gone, it’s gone. Phillips believes that’s one of the main reasons beer lovers are so interested in firkins. “From a consumer standpoint, there’s always an interest for something that is different and changing,” he says. “Firkins are a unique experience, because they aren’t able to be exactly replicated.” The firkin crowd showing up to RoHa every Wednesday is certainly dedicated, and their loyalty isn’t hard to understand. When I visited, the firkin tapped was Pineapple Back Porch—a hoppy brew with intense pineapple notes. Using a wooden mallet to tap the pin, there’s a brief eruption of beer filling the room with the bright scent of summer fruit. The first pour is served ceremoniously, and it’s beautiful in its own way. The beginning of the end for this batch that will never exist again. Such is life, and we cheers to enjoying this delicious fleeting thing. 

RoHa is encouraging breweries around the state to get in on the firkin funk. Their Spring Firkin Festival last April gathered ten breweries, and Phillips says there are plans to host another event this fall. “We invite all breweries to stretch their legs a little bit and make something crazy and unique.” Follow the brewery on their site and socials to stay up to date on beer events and festivals, and visit their taproom for a rotating selection of seasonal beers.

30 E Kensington Ave, SLC, @rohabrewing, rohabrewing.com

Aug 22
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Review: Ally Venable Band w/ Eric Heideman

By Arts & Culture, Music

Ally Venable made her Salt Lake City debut by rockin’ the blues for an enthusiastic crowd at The State Room on Friday, August 18, 2023. With no visible setlist, she seamlessly launched a dozen piercing blues numbers. Veneble’s superior guitar skills and powerful blues vocals rolled our socks down.

The 24 year-old East Texas guitar slinger, accompanied by her band bassist EJ Bedford and drummer Isaac Pulido opened with “Real Gone,” the title track from her latest album. The hard-driving rock number set the pace for the evening. Early in her set she reworked the classic Bill Withers song “Use Me.” She kept the ‘72 funky soul beat, but took the song on a fresh, new rockin’ blues journey. 

Photo credit Colleen O’Neill

Photo credit Colleen O’Neill

She kicked our ass with her high-octane song, appropriately titled, “Kick Your Ass,” before melting our hearts with “Comfort in My Sorrow,” a slow-blues number she wrote at age 15. The song lyrically blended her teen angst with an old-soul blues melody. That performance was definitely a highlight of the night.  What an impressive achievement!  I mean, when I was 15-years old, I was still learning how to roll a joint or build a bird feeder in woodshop; nevermind writing a masterfully constructed blues song.

She then hit us with “Broken and Blue” and “Texas Louisiana,” two standout songs from her new record. She ended her set with a chillingly beautiful instrumental number titled “Tribute to SRV,” her homage to Stevie Ray Vaughn, whose music influenced her decision to play the blues. For her encore she continued her salute to Texas blues masters with her ripping version of Freddie King’s 1971 “Going Down.” Venable and her band owned the room all night with their well-orchestrated and finely executed show.

Photo credit Colleen O’Neill

Photo credit Colleen O’Neill

Salt Lake City bluesman Eric Heideman opened the evening with a solo performance. He started us off with “Slow Water,” an original, yet old-school styled slide guitar blues number he played on a sweet Gretsch Honey Dipper metal resonator that delivered a big sound. He also played “Howlin’ Wind” from his new album Third Degree Gravity. He grabbed his locally made guitar (from Mid-Valley Guitar Gallery) and rocked out “I Didn’t Do it,” a great new song he recorded with Grammy-nominated blues pianist Victor Wainwright. In all, Heideman launched half-a-dozen original compositions to whet our appetite. With three full-length albums to his credit he is developing a growing catalog of great modern blues songs. Don’t miss a chance to catch him when he plays around town. His next performance is at Haglund Ranch, a hidden gem out in Murray, on Saturday, August 26, 2023. 

Venable is one of a growing number of amazing women who are taking blues music to new heights in the 21st century. Many thanks to Utah Blues Society for helping to bring these wonderful players to Salt Lake City.  

Seeing such amazing talent up close in an intimate space is something to cherish. I often feel so privileged when I leave The State Room. I can’t wait to see Danielle Nicole, a multi-award winning bassist and blues singer, who will grace The State Room stage with her band on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Here’s a little teaser video of Nicole and Venable on stage together In Kansas City playing “Going Down.” Life Elevated!

Photo Credit Paul Montano

Photo Credit Paul Montano

Photo Credit Paul Montano

Who: Ally Venable Band w/ Eric Heideman

Where: The State Room

When: Friday, August 18, 2023

Info: www.thestateroompresents.com

Ally Venable is one of the many women rockin’ the blues, see who else The State Room is bringing to Salt Lake here!

Aug 22
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Satire: Praying for Water in Utah

By Adventures, Outdoors

The world will never let Utah Governor Spencer Cox live down his June 2021 plea to Utahns to pray for rain and snow. But, in Utah, we understand—if the need is dire enough, “the Lord will provide.” And, with a need as dire as not enough water, Utahns know it’s time to humble ourselves before Him and pray for rain.

All Utahns also know that “the Lord helps those who help themselves,” and we help ourselves to as much water as we want. In Utah, water conservation guidelines exist so we can judge thy neighbors’ broken sprinklers spraying into the street. We pray that Bill will mend his wicked ways. But really, what does Bill care? In Utah, water is cheap. Cheaper than fixing a broken sprinkler.

There are just so many reasons we just can’t conserve water here. Water less? City ordinances commandeth that lawns be green. Xeriscape? The HOA would throw a fit. See. We can’t help it. That we have the highest per capita water use and the lowest water prices in the nation is God’s will. 

But behold! A study from the Lord’s university, BYU, found that in July 2022, Saratoga Springs residents reduced their water use by 22%. A miracle? No. The city charges users tiered rates depending on how much water they use. The more water they use, the more expensive each gallon gets, and the size of the city’s irrigation allotment is adjusted based on drought conditions. So, when there’s less water to go around, everyone’s allotment shrinks. It’s kind of a reverse-loaves-and-fishes deal.

And Lo! In Blanding, the city has a single, isolated water system for drinking and irrigation, as God intended, so they had to get creative to circumvent His will. The city’s engineers forecast the water supply for the year based on snowpack, runoff and storage, and the city council sets the water rates and allotments based on that forecast. They have a color-coded system to communicate the conditions to residents that goes from Green (water your lawn guilt-free) to Red (only indoor use is allowed, feel extremely guilty when watering your lawn). Blanding charges water users a base rate as well as a tiered rate according to the proportion of the allotment they use. In 2022, Blanding was at Orange (water is scarce and outdoor watering is restricted, so feel a little guilty), and residents used 14% less water in 2022 than in 2021.

Those towns have proven we can conserve water and weather a drought without divine intervention. Blasphemy! What are they trying to do? Make the rest of us look bad? These Doubting Thomases now are given to understand that Governor Cox made it come to pass. This year, the Lord answered our prayers with a multitude of moisture. Hallelujah! Rejoice! It’s another year we don’t have to do anything but pray. 

Aug 21
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The Witches of Salt Lake City Meet at Pleiadian Altar

By Community

Salt lake city has become known for its thriving community of witches recently. Perhaps you’ve seen one of the viral TikToks joking about it by local Utah band @nosuchanimal, where members of the band look out over the city, saying, “What a nice state. Certainly, there are no witches here.” Of course, here be witches.

Local witch and owner of The Pleiadian Altar, Julia Gates, defines a witch as “anyone who’s using their own self-power to make their lives better.” Gates’ shop opened its doors in July of last year as a hub for Salt Lake witches of all cultures and creeds. Gates made an effort to make her shop “baby witch” friendly, with easy DIY bundles for beginners.

Julia Gates, the owner of The Pleiadian Altar. Photo by Adam Finkle.

And you don’t need to be religious in order to be a witch. “We’re not like a pagan or Wiccan store or anything like that. So anyone of any religion could come in. You could come in and be super LDS and find something that you like,” says Gates. Gates grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and became interested in the metaphysical at the age of 12. She got her first pendulum at 16 and from there began to fall in love with the effects of crystals.  

Once Gates discovered her passion for witchcraft, she quickly discovered a growing community of like-minded Utahns.

“There are a lot of very similar things between LDS or Christianity and witchcraft—like belief in an afterlife. So a lot of people might turn to witchcraft as something they might resonate with.  We aren’t bound by any rules, per se, but still believe in something…There are a lot of people who are into witchcraft, the metaphysical and healing, you just wouldn’t know it.”  

Events at The Pleiadian Altar

Every week the shop hosts Witchy Wednesdays from 6 p.m.–9 p.m., where anyone can participate in witchy crafts such as making spell jars from an open “herb-bar” or painting glass jars for moonwater. With instructions from Gates and her staff, everyone of all levels and interests can join in on the fun. 

Check their instagram:

@the.pleiadian.altar for their monthly event schedule. 917 Vine St., Unit B, Murray (Located behind Garden Espresso.)  utahcrystals.com 

Aug 18
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Reimagine Your Backyard With Tips from Designer Daryl Lindsey

By Lifestyle

Daryl Lindsey, who formally launched her Yardfarmer.co sustainable landscape design venture in the fall of 2022, wants you to think about your yard differently. Totally differently.

Photo by Jackelin Slack

That fence-to-fence lawn in need of weekly mowing and thirsty for hundreds of dollars worth of water each month could become an outdoor kitchen, dining room or  cozy reading nook surrounded by native plants, grasses and flowers.

“Reimagine your yard as a floor plan, the same way you would look at a floor plan of your house,” says Lindsey, who founded sustainable landscape design company Yardfarmer.co last fall. “Think about walking out of your home into the next room—an outdoor kitchen area where you’ll use the smoker for a pizza night, and then beyond that is the patio dining area, followed by a more casual living room where you’ll lounge with a glass of wine or a spritz and talk about life with friends.” 

Follow Lindsey’s Tips to Reimagine Your Outdoor Space

Tip #1: Look at your yard from the top down. Think about the ways you want to spend time outside, whether it’s playing soccer with the kids or reading a book in a shaded hammock during the summer. “Those are important things to nail down first,” Lindsey says. “Then build your layout around that.”

Tip #2: Make your yard work for you. Lindsey suggests thinking about ways to reduce maintenance so being outside doesn’t feel like a chore. Converting lawn space to include eco blends or native turf, like buffalo grass, requires less mowing and watering. “You can be in your yard doing things you actually like.”

Tip #3: Go beyond the aesthetics. There’s nothing quite like walking outside to clip herbs or harvest vegetables to go with dinner. “It creates this sense of your yard doing something for you that can be really fun and special.”

Tip #4: Create an ecosystem that gives back. Lindsey explains that your yard can also do good for the planet. Think about what wildlife—like native bees, butterflies and birds—can get from your garden. “Pollinators are desperate for food sources, and they’ll start thriving in your yard,” she says.

Learn more about making the most of your outdoor space from our sister publication, Utah Style and Design magazine!

Aug 17
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Summertime Treats to Beat the Heat: Popsicles and Sundaes

By Eat & Drink

Remember when we were all complaining about the cold? And now…it’s 100 degrees outside and even your hair follicles are sweating. This summer, the brain freeze is definitely worth it in order to taste these irresistible local frozen treats. Here are our favorite frozen treats to beat the heat in Utah: popsicles and ice cream parlor novelties.


Popsicles


Joy Pops: Latina-style mobile popsicle truck keeps it cool


Paletas are popsicles that originally hail from Mexico and have spread around the world—including to our little corner. They are made with fruit, cream and light sweeteners. The result is a refreshing, satisfyingly creamy and fruity taste perfect for hot summer days here in Salt Lake City. 



Joy Pops Paletas. Photo by Adam Finkle


Kalli Lebaron, the owner of Joy Pops, launched her gourmet “ice cream truck” style paletería when she was just 17 years old. Kalli met Valerie, the owner of Joy Nutrition Pops, in the Dominican Republic and was so inspired by her that she decided to apprentice with her to learn how to make genuine paletas from scratch. With the support of her family, she put together a business plan, found a retired ice cream truck and space in a commissary kitchen, and launched her business as she was wrapping up high school. 


What makes paletas unique?


“American ice pops are normally water-based and are flavored with artificial flavors, thickeners and sweeteners,” explains Kalli. “Mexican paletas are made with a whole fruit base, all real fruit and water. The cream-based ones are made with thick cream, milk and natural sugars. It is also not churned, so we are not incorporating air into the base. We end up with a dense texture where you can taste the quality and the care. And what always stands out to me is the texture.” They are almost like gelato in popsicle form.


Fruity Favorites:


  • Tropical—with strawberry, mango, pineapple and peach


  • Mango & Kiwi—made with fresh mangos and whole kiwis 


  • Watermelon—tastes like the sweetest fresh watermelon ever 


  • Mojito—limeade and fresh mint


Creamy Pops:


  •  Coconut—with fresh shredded coconut  


  • Cookies and Cream—with an ENTIRE cookie right at the top


  • Berry Cheesecake—with house-made cream cheese and berry jam


  • Coffee & Toffee—creamy coffee with chocolate-covered toffee



Ice Cream Parlor Treats


The Float


What It Is Not: A Milkshake


What It Is: A fizzy, creamy combination of ice cream or sherbet in a glass of soda (flavored or plain). The key here is acid phosphate or phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid contains a small amount of the mineral phosphorus, which, according to Coca-Cola’s “official” statement on the substance, “is found widely in nature and helps give our bodies energy. It is also a big component of bones and teeth.” So it’s fine, right? The point is the fizzy minerally, tart acid collides with creamy ice cream, resulting in yummy. Classic is, of course, the Root Beer Float (vanilla ice cream + root beer) but there are many, many variations. Like lime sherbet and 7-UP (a mainstay at ward picnics, substituting Shasta, of course.) 


Who Does it Best: Hire’s Big H, 425 S. 700 East, SLC, hiresbigh.com



The Sundae


What It Is Not: A boring scoop of vanilla ice cream


What It Is: Originally called the “Sunday,” the sundae’s name evolved confusingly from ice cream shops trying not to confuse customers who thought “the Sunday” was only available on, well, Sunday. Make sense? No. Nevertheless, this mountain of ice cream and toppings is alive and well here in Utah and there are plenty of options for turning ice cream into something way bigger. Bigger is better right?


Who Does it Best: Farr Better Ice Cream Shop, 274 21st St., Ogden,
farrsicecream.com



We have more on the history of ice cream in Utah, and more summertime treats, here!


Aug 17
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Preview: Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard of Swell Season w/ Lizzie Weber

By Arts & Culture, Music

In 2006, Glen Hansard, frontman of the Irish rock band The Frames, and Czech pianist Marketa Irglova agreed to record music for an independent Irish film. In addition to writing and recording the soundtrack, they also ended up playing the leading roles. Once, filmed in Dublin over 17 days with a budget of $150,000, premiered at Sundance in 2007 and won the World Cinema Audience Award before going on to win an Oscar for Best Original Song with “Falling Slowly.” Now we have a chance to welcome in the Oscar and eight-time Tony Award-winning duo Swell Season on Monday, August 21, 2023

Hansard and Irglova formed the indie-folk duo Swell Season after the launch of the film and charmed audiences on the road with their award-winning formula of heartfelt songs of struggle, love, and loss. In 2009, they released their second full-length album Strict Joy which reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. The following year the duo went on an extended hiatus to work on separate solo projects. But Once, the little independent Irish film that could, kept building momentum. In 2012, it was adapted into a Broadway musical that won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Hansard and Irglova have reunited for a limited tour (a belated 15th Anniversary celebration of the success of Once) which includes a stop at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre. They’ve also released the deeply personal duet “The Answer Is Yes,” their first song together in more than a decade. The song tells the story of their strong bond, despite their past struggles as a duo. We have a rare opportunity to see Swell Season perform favorites from the Once soundtrack, Swell Season hits, and maybe even a few songs from their solo catalogs. Before you go, rewatch the film. It’s definitely worth seeing again. The soundtrack is timeless.

Opening is singer-songwriter Lizzy Weber. The St. Louis native will reconnect with Irglova with whom she recorded two songs in 2018. Weber is touring in support of her recently released album Fidalgo. Inspired by the Cormac McCarthy novel, Blood Meridian, Weber penned a song by the same name that captures the novel’s eerie gloom. Though the record isn’t limited to dark literary themes, “Be Your Love” and “Yours and Mine” evoke a Mazzy Star-styled dream-pop sensuality. She’ll be a great pairing with Swell Season. Indeed, this season at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre has certainly been swell.

Who: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

What: Swell Season

Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

When: Monday, August 21, 2023

Tickets and info: www.redbuttegarden.org