It’s the start of a new chapter for Bambara, one of downtown Salt Lake City’s most iconic restaurants, located on the ground floor of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco on Main Street.
Nowadays, guests will find a fresh new take on a longtime favorite. From top to bottom, Bambara boasts a brand new aesthetic, with crisp, clean black and white decor accentuating the soft brown leather seating. In this new era, the goal is to be more than a place for that one big night out.
“We have a history of being a special occasion restaurant,” Bambara’s Food and Beverage Director Brandon Buschart says. “We want to bridge the gap with people who are out on the town and might be hopping around from place to place while also not alienating those people who have been coming here forever.”
Photo courtesy of Bambara; Hotel Monaco
With a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service, Bambara also offers a menu for meals of all shapes and sizes. Whether you want to have a few small plates to share, or a fantastic appetizer and a full-fledged entree, you can have either—or both.
If you’re out with a group and have no reservations about passing plates, putting together one of Bambara’s artisan charcuterie boards might be the way to go. With cheese offerings like Red Butte Hatch Chili Cheddar, Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese and Rogue Smoked Blue Cheese to complement slices of Duroc Pork Paté, La Belle Farms Duck Rillette, and Rocky Mountain Elk Summer Sausage, you can’t go wrong with whichever combination you choose. Of course, you can always order the whole smorgasbord, if you’re up for it.
Bison Wellington. Photo courtesy of Bambara; Hotel Monaco
Now small plates can be fun for a crowd, or a lighthearted night out, but if you’re looking to make the night a memorable one, Bambara offers a slew of surf-n-turf entree options. Across the entire menu, you can find a yummy bite made from local ingredients, done in partnership with farms and purveyors in the region. Sustainable, local food is a pillar of Bambara’s values. And according to many, Bambara’s crown jewel is the Bison Wellington, Chef Patrick LeBeau’s favorite dish which has been locally sourced from Wyoming and done in a very traditional way.
“The renovation allowed time to develop new relationships with local vendors and producers and we are very excited to highlight them on the menu,” said Executive Chef Patrick LeBeau. Some of these new vendors include Bread Riot Bakehouse and Brickhouse Growers supplying us with great local sourdough and microgreens that can be seen across the menu. The menu will continue to rotate seasonally, with a couple of staple dishes remaining from season to season.”
Scallops. Photo courtesy of Bambara; Hotel Monaco
Those who want an especially memorable meal might consider a more intimate experience with Chef LeBeau. Taking part in the Chef’s Table feature seats guests at special tables that allow unique access to Chef LeBeau and his team during the service and allows for insight on upcoming dishes, Chef’s favorites, and other experiential items not available at other tables.
But the changes don’t stop at just the decor and menu prepared by Chef LeBeau. Not only is Bambara showing off a new look and feel, just like the entire Hotel Monaco, but an exciting new location will soon be throwing open its doors to the public on the other end of the restaurant. The Vault, a cocktail bar with sidewalk access on the corner of Main St. and 200 West, will soon be ready to serve up some of Salt Lake City’s most unique spirits in an ultra-cool ambiance.
“It will be very approachable to all, like a 1950s American bar,” Buschart says of the soon-to-be-opened bar space, which pays homage to the location’s former identity as a bank.
So while things might look a little different now at Bambara, the great experience and attention to detail have remained the same. Whether it’s for a special occasion, or just a moment to treat yourself and others, Bambara is the place to be.
“We’re looking to make it a place where you can have a couple of drinks and an appetizer and maybe move on to somewhere else and also have a great meal on a special evening,” Buschart says. “In a hotel space, you have to figure out if you want to be a local favorite or a place for business guests. We’re going to be both.”
For most of the two-plus decades that I have called Utah home, my consideration for Idaho really didn’t extend much beyond its most famous ski area, the posh Sun Valley Resort, and the non-Utah half of Bear Lake. Lately, however, I’ve gotten to know the Potato State a little better, particularly its rural southeastern corner—a beautifully rugged landscape ripe for adventuresome nature bathing. Following are highlights of three must-do and-see Idaho summer destinations just over Utah’s northern border: Maple Grove Hot Springs, City of Rocks National Reserve/Castle Rocks State Park and Minnetonka Cave. All of these destinations are reachable within a three-hour drive from Salt Lake City.
Springs Eternal
Tucked along the Bear River’s Oneida Narrows Reservoir, Maple Grove Hot Springs & Retreat Center (maplegrovesprings.com) is 45 acres of nature-infused tranquility. There, you’ll find summer camp-chic accommodations, sweeping mountain-meets-river views and, of course, the natural, mineral-infused hot springs: two swimming-pool-sized soaking pools just outside the River House check-in/locker room building and three smaller, stone-lined pools, situated along lit, flagstone walkways. Besides soaking, things to do at Maple Grove include swimming or paddling in the river, working out the kinks in a yoga class or, as part of the owners’ mission to raise mental health awareness, taking part in the center’s monthly suicide prevention trainings.
City of Rocks National Reserve. Photo courtesy of visit Idaho.Hiking at Castle Rocks State Park near Almo. Photo courtesy of visit Idaho.
Surreal City
On the bucolic approach to City of Rocks National Reserve/Castle Rocks State Park (nps.gov/ciro), sweeping sageland gives way to fairytale-like valley filled with granite spires that reach toward the sky like giant gnarled fingers. Though these side-by-side recreation areas are a climber’s mecca—just shy of 1,000 rock-climbing routes have been established there—non-climbing families will find plenty to do in the surreal and stunningly beautiful landscape there. Dirt roads throughout both “The City,” as it is known for short, and Castle Rocks lead to trailheads accessing hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that wind through and around the rock formations, including a section of the California National Historic Trail. Pitch your tent at one of the many campsites inside the Reserve ($14 per night); larger sites suitable for both tent camping and RVs, can be found at Castle Rocks’ Smoky Mountain Campground ($31 per night) which also features paved roads, a shower house and flush toilets. Advance and same-day camping reservations for both areas can be made at reserveamerica.com. Day use in The City is free and $7 at Castle Rocks. After the sun goes down, be sure to look up. Earlier this year, City of Rocks received full certification as an International Dark Sky Park.
Road signs entering into Camp Rock at City of Rocks National Reserve; Camping. Photo courtesy of visit Idaho.City Of Rocks National Reserve, Almo. Photo courtesy of visit Idaho
Almo Attractions
The super-cute ranching town of Almo offers the closest services to The City/Castle Rocks. Get your bearings at the City of Rocks National Reserve Visitor Center, located in the center of town (208-824-5901, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily). Other attractions along the Almo’s main drag include the Durfee Hot Springs(durfeehotsprings.com), the wood-fired pizza and HUGE canned beer selection at Rock City Mercantile(208-824-5510) and homemade pie at The Outpost Steakhouse (almoinn.com). Though a few other restaurants eke out an existence there, be sure to bring plenty of food with you for your stay. Almo eateries can get crowded on summer weekends (the closest grocery store is about an hour away).
Over-The-Border Spelunking
Hiking inside Minnetonka Cave at St. Charles. Photo courtesy of visit Idaho.
What’s better than dipping a toe in Bear Lake’s cool, blue waters on a hot summer day? Taking a tour of the nearby Minnetonka Cave, one of the largest and most impressive karst limestone caves in the U.S. This mind-blowing natural wonder (that stays at a constant 40 degrees all summer long) features nine separate chambers, all beautifully lit, including the 300-feet-wide and 90-feet tall Ballroom.
While every part of the cave’s 90-minute tour is impressive, particularly memorable features include the dense set of slender stalactites called the Soda Straw Ceiling and an enormous stalagmite trio dubbed The Three Sisters.
When you go, bring a jacket and comfortable walking shoes and be ready for a workout: though the distance you’ll cover in the cave is only about half a mile, you’ll climb up and down a daunting 888 stairs in the process.
Minnetonka Cave is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, weather permitting. Make tour reservations in advance at recreation.gov.
Getting there
Maple Grove Hot Springs & Retreat Center is 47 miles north of Logan in Thatcher, Idaho. Take S.R. 91 north from Logan to Preston. From there take S.R. 36 to N. Maple Grove Road and Oneida Narrows Road to the retreat center.
City of Rocks/Castle Rocks State Park: take Interstate 15 north from Salt Lake to Tremonton. There, head west on I-84 to Sublette exit 245 and go west toward Malta, Elba, and Almo. (Google maps may suggest a route along 27 through Oakley, Idaho, which requires driving more than 20 miles on a dirt road.)
Minnetonka Cave is about 90 minutes from Logan through Logan Canyon and past Bear Lake. Take S.R. 89 north to St. Charles. There turn west onto Minnetonka Cave Road and follow it for 8 miles to the lower cave parking lot.
Take the Party Elsewhere
Photo courtesy of maple grove hot springs.
Unlike some other hot springs that attract soakers into tying one on, at Maple Grove, relaxation, reflection and wellness take center stage. Drinking is not allowed in the pools, and neither is nudity. After-dark quiet hours require conversations to diminish to a whisper, both at the pools and around campfires. There’s no cell phone service at Maple Grove and the number of daytime and overnight guests is limited. It’s simply one of those few, rare places where you can go to reboot, immerse yourself in nature and find peace.
Movies are kind of a thing here in Utah but with all the mega plush movie theaters we think not enough drive-in theaters are getting the proper attention they deserve. Here’s three of the best from around the state.
Redwood Drive-in Theater
This outdoor theater has been showing movies since 1948! Since then they’ve made a bunch of changes including a state of the art projector system. Broadcasting a movie through their powerful FM system makes movies feel more real than ever. So, grab the kids and load up the suburban. Located in West Valley City additional details can be found on their website.
Erda Drive-in Theater
Motor Vu
Formerly known as Motor Vu Theater, Erda Drive-in started in 1947 and has been a staple in the Salt Lake Valley for generations. The theater features four screens and a digital projection system that will bring every movie to life. Not literally, but you know what we mean. One of our favorite things about this drive-in is their snack bar. Instead of having to pay $5.50 for a large coke, prices at the snack bar are much more reasonable and wallet friendly. What Megaplex or Cinemark serves dill pickles, custom energy drinks and four cotton candy flavors? All these and more can be found at the snack bar. Erda movie theater is located in Tooele and additional information can be found on their website.
Shooting Star Drive-in
Down in Utah’s Red Rock Country, near the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument, which is awesome and you should totally go there, you’ll find Shooting Star RV Resort in Escalante. The resort has a Drive-in theater with a fleet of classic ’60s cars to watch an outdoor movie. We thought this was pretty cool and definitely worth checking out. Movies are shown on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Check out their website to find out more.
Shooting Star Drive-in. Photo courtesy Visit Utah.
Movies in the Park
Whether you don’t have any sweet wheels, or your Prius just isn’t suited for comfortably sitting through all three hours of Oppenheimer, you can still watch films in the great outdoors. Check out these movies in the park hosted select days throughout the summer:
Movie Magic in the Mountains
Enjoy the sweet summer breeze and stunning mountain views at Solitude Mountain Resort. The ski resort screens free classic films on their Moonbeam Lawn every Thursday now through Aug. 31. View the whole schedule, and don’t forget a lawn chair and a blanket!
Friday Fun Nights
Riverton City hosts Friday Fun Nights all summer, which include food trucks, local vendor booths, live music and free outdoor movie screenings. Movies begin at dusk, weather permitting.
The State Room Presents hit the trifecta when they booked three amazing women who rock the blues. Over the next few weeks we’ll have a chance to see some of the best the genre has to offer in intimate settings.
When we hear the term “blues” we often think about the men who pioneered the genre–be it Robert Johnson, Son House, Howlin’ Wolf or Muddy Waters. Women, however, have been singing the blues since the emergence of the musical style. Ma Rainey, the Mother of The Blues and Bessie Smith, the Empress of The Blues, were the first superstar blues musicians in the 1920s. In the 1930s, Sister Rosetta Tharpe electrified gospel and blues. Two decades later, artists like Elvis Presely and Chuck Berry copied Tharpe’s influential style and turned it into rock‘n’roll. Women pioneered the blues, often without the acknowledgment they deserve. They are still carrying the torch.
Ally Venable
Ally Venable
Twenty-four year-old, East Texas guitar slinger, Ally Venable, just released her 5th full-length studio album Real Gone (yes, 5th album–she started recording as a teenage prodigy). Blues legends are lining up to play with this rising star. On “Texas Louisiana” Venable teams up with Buddy Guy for a fresh, new duet that feels like an old classic. On “Broken and Blue,” a great slow-burning blues number, she trades guitar licks with Joe Bonamassa. Real Gone charts Venable’s progression as a songwriter (her guitar chops are already well-established) and builds off her excellent 2021 release Heart of Fire. Venable is a legitimate tour-de-force in modern blues and to see her in the intimate confines of The State Room on Friday, August 18, 2023 is a “don’t miss” opportunity for me. I might not get another chance to see her in a small listening room before she launches to larger venues.
Danielle Nicole
Danielle Nicole
Danielle Nicole (born Danielle Nicole Schnebelen) emerged from the Kansas City blues music scene as lead vocalist and bassist in her family band, Trampled Under Foot. In 2014, the band’s album Badlands won the Blues Music Awards Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. She also became the first woman to win the Blues Music Award in the category of Instrumentalist–Bass. Since, she’s won the award three more times. The following year Nicole released her debut solo album Wolf Den which reached #2 in the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. The singles “Take It All” and “You Only Need Me When You’re Down” exemplify the soulful nature of Nicole’s powerhouse voice. Her bass-line tracks put the rhythm in her blues.
Her critically-acclaimed 2018 release Cry No More hit #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Album chart and earned her a Grammy nomination. The album highlights Nicole’s commanding blues, rock and soul vocals paralleling artists like Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. Her single “Save Me” featured Kenny Wayne Shepherd on guitar.
To hear Danielle Nicole and her band on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 in a space with the sound quality of The State Room is too good to pass up.
Samantha Fish
Ally Venable
With the style of Marilyn Monroe and the guitar prowess of Stevie Ray Vaughan comes Samantha Fish, the Kansas City guitar shredder who now calls New Orleans home. Fish is a mesmerizing presence on stage and a powerful force in blues music today. With a string of albums hitting #1 on the Billboard Blues charts, Fish has built an impressive catalog of great rockin’ blues numbers like “Faster” and “Kill or Be Kind.” Nobody can draw you in quite like Fish, especially when she tackles the blues classics like “I Put A Spell On You.” When she pulls out her cigar box guitar things really start smoking. Check out this video of “Bulletproof.”
Her latest album Death Wish Blues, recorded with Austin-based country rocker Jesse Dayton, pushes the limits of blues music. She lures you in with inflections of funk, punk, rockabilly, and country, before driving the blues dagger into your soul with songs like “Death Wish” and “Rippin’ and Runnin’.”
Fish is best experienced live. You won’t be able to look away even as her explosive guitar riffs melt your face. Her upcoming show at The Commonwealth Room on Thursday, September 28, 2023 is sure to sell out. Don’t wait too long to buy tickets.
Who: Ally Venable, Danielle Nicole, Samantha Fish
What: Women Who Rock The Blues
Where: The State Room (Venable, Nicole), The Commonwealth Roon (Fish)
When: August 18, 2023 (Venable), September 6, 2023 (Nicole), September 28, 2023 (Fish)
This year, October is bringing more than candy and insensitive costumes. An annular solar eclipse is set to occur on Saturday, Oct. 14th and will pass through seven states and thirty national parks, including most of southern Utah. City folks are gearing up for the trip and small, southern towns are skeptical about the tourists that might trash their public parks and national monuments. Here’s how to prepare for the solar event, where to see it, and a few stargazing events to attend.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse, like a total solar eclipse, occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. However, when an annular eclipse occurs the moon is in orbit farther away from the Earth and is unable to block the sun completely leaving a burning outline around the moon’s silhouette which is why this type of eclipse is nicknamed “Ring of Fire.” Not only is this event extremely rare, but it will be the second solar eclipse of the year.
No need to plan your lodgings ahead of time! With thousands of people pouring into small towns that are ill-equipped to handle such a sudden and large influx of tourists, you can be sure that they have reserved a space for you.
However, if you do wish to book your stay in advance, hotels are available in many towns surrounding Capitol Reef. Please visit the Wayne County, Utah Office of Tourism page for more information.
Camping
Camping reservations at Capitol Reef are fully booked. Check out camping alternatives in the area. Neighboring Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service (USFS) lands do permit dispersed camping, please inquire locally for dispersed camping rules and ethics.
Special Events
Snow College in Richfield, UT is hosting an eclipse event. There will be science experiments, telescopes, and more. Visit the Snow College website for more information.
Visitors can also hike any of the frontcountry or backcountry trails for a unique perspective amongst the rock outcrops of Capitol Reef National Park. Any overnight backpacking trips do require a free backcountry permit which can be obtained at the visitor center.
Daily astronomy activities at 11 am; 30 minutes at Ripple Rock Nature Center lawn.
Daily solar scope viewing outside the visitor center, stop by to look safely at the sun. Times to be determined.
October 12, special eclipse evening program at 7:30 pm at the campground amphitheater.
Safety and Impact
Remember, it is NEVER safe to view an eclipse without certified eyewear. But don’t worry about properly disposing of your glasses. The good residents of Torrey and other small towns will be THRILLED to watch as city-dwellers leave their paper glasses all over parks and public spaces.
Utah boasts the highest density of certified dark sky parks in the world! Learn more.
In the Black Forest of Germany, one can walk the Schnapsbrunnenweg, the “schnapps fountain trail,” on which hikers can find ten magical wells filled with bottles of homemade spirits, made for them to imbibe for strength on the journey. While this fairytale tradition has not made its way to Utah, we have our own version: BYOB (or W or C). Here are the outdoor-friendly (read: canned) beverages that pair best with your intended outdoor activity, from home-grown Utah beer to canned cocktails from local distillers.
Mountain biking—pair with wine
Just like the varied terrain beloved by mountain bikers, pack along something rugged and versatile that also fits in a bicycle’s bottle holder. Revelshine Wine comes in recyclable and durable aluminum bottles and three varieties—red, white and rosé. revelshinewines.com
Day hiking—pair with sparkling rosé
Stop and enjoy the mountain views with something lightly sweet, refreshing and effervescent. Grid City’s Rosé Hard Seltzer is a drinkable white wine/seltzer hybrid that sings like a crisp French rosé wine and comes in a handy, portable can. gridcitybeerworks.com
Camping—pair with high-point Utah beer
While sitting around the campfire, swapping stories or staring at the flames in silence, you want a full, complex beer you can sip all night. Bewilder Brewing’s Imperial Mole Porter is an English-style porter aged in tequila and mezcal barrels. It’s rich and it’s a whopping 10.2% ABV. bewilderbrewing.com
On the water—pair with classic American beer
It’s a little on the nose, but Fisher Brewing started near the water on the Jordan River and still sips well on the water. Whether casting lines or floating rapids, pack along an oil can (or two) of Fisher Beer—it’s a classic, crisp and clean American Lager. Bonus points if you also bring along a Fisher ball cap. fisherbeers.com
Outdoor Concerts—pair with cocktails
Some of us prefer to enjoy the summer outdoors from a low-riding lawn chair, on the grass, listening to our dad’s favorite band. Fill the backpack-cooler with canned cocktails like Sugar House Distillery’s Raspberry Whiskey Sour. sugarhousedistillery.net
Backpacking—pair with spirits
If on the trail for multiple days, carrying a case of beer isn’t practical, so bring something that packs a punch because you can’t bring much. Simplicity Cocktails’ Bourbon Whiskey (in a can) helps take the edge off. drinksimplicity.com
ATV-ing—pair with water
Do not drink alcohol and operate a motor vehicle. And, have we got the portable, canned water for you: Beaver Water. The newer company cans Tushar Mountains spring water—long credited as not just Utah’s best water, but the best-tasting water in the nation—with a sense of humor. drinkbeaver.com
Heading out on a road trip? Check out our top picks for snacks as picked by the Salt Lake magazine team.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden designated a new national monument near the Grand Canyon, on the border of Arizona and Utah. The new monument is made to permanently protect the land, which is considered sacred to multiple tribes of indigenous people, from new uranium mining claims. The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument includes in its boundaries 1 million acres of federal lands.
According to the White House statement, the name reflects the significance of the Grand Canyon area, not just to one but to many Tribal Nations. Baaj nwaavjo (BAAHJ – NUH-WAAHV-JOH) means “where Indigenous peoples roam” in the Havasupai language, and i’tah kukveni (EE-TAH – KOOK-VENNY) means “our ancestral footprints” in the Hopi language.
The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument spans tribes’ homelands, ceremonial land and other important cultural and archaeological sites, according to the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, who has long pushed for protection of these lands. (The Coalition consists of representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.) These sites include Gray Mountain, called Dziłbeeh by the Navajo, which is a part of Navajo ceremonial songs, stories and rituals and a sacred site called Wii’i Gdwiisa by the Havasupai, which towers above the southern portion of the monument.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox made a statement opposing the Grand Canyon National Monument designation: “This monument designation is frustrating news, especially for residents of Utah along the Arizona strip. As I’ve said many times before, massive, landscape-scale monuments like this are a mistake. These designations increase visitation without providing any additional resources for law enforcement and infrastructure to protect sensitive areas. They also needlessly restrict access to the critical minerals that are key to cell phones, satellites, U.S. defense systems and so many other American industries. I still believe the only right way to create large new land designations is through Congress in coordination with local leaders and residents, a process that brings all voices to the table and offers the necessary funding.”
Maps of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument boundaries from the Grand Canyon Trust. (Credit Stephanie Smith, Grand Canyon Trust.) The monument itself will conserve nearly 1 million acres of public lands made up of three distinct areas to the south, northeast and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park. It is bordered by the Kanab watershed boundary and Kanab Creek drainage in the northwestern area and the Havasupai Indian Reservation and Navajo Nation in the southern area, and stretches from Marble Canyon to the edge of the Kaibab Plateau in the northeastern area.
Timeline: Grand Canyon Area Mining And Protections
So, how did we get here? The disagreement over use and protections of the area around the Grand Canyon is not new. Salt Lake magazine put together a timeline, which provides an overview of the issues and major events:
1906: Early Protections For Grand Canyon Area
President Theodore Roosevelt withdraws the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest from mineral location and entry when he first creates the Grand Canyon Preserve.
1940s-1950s: Uranium Discovery
Uranium ore deposits are discovered and mines were opened in northern Arizona in the 1940s and 1950s.
Late 1970s: Uranium Mining Interest
A price spike in uranium triggers increased demand for exploration by mining companies.
1980s-1990s: Uranium Mining Boom
the U.S. Geological Survey began studying the uranium deposits of the area and produces maps. Exploration activities result in six new uranium mines that together produced 1,471,942 tons of uranium during the late 1980s into the early 1990s. (Three of seven mines have been reclaimed. The remaining four were put into “maintenance” or standby status in the early 1990s due to declining prices for uranium and economic considerations.)
2000: New Monuments
Tribal lands bordering Grand Canon National Park become off limits to uranium development when the Grand Canyon Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments are created and the lands are withdrawn from mineral entry.
2007-2008: “Uranium Bubble”
The price of Uranium spikes, causing an increase in uranium mining claims in attempts to capitalize on the spike, including more than 10,000 uranium mining claims on the land around Grand Canyon National Park.
2008-2009: Efforts To Protect The Grand Canyon
A number of events occur to bring attention to these lands and the potential for long term or permanent impacts to the Grand Canyon watershed from potential environmental effects of uranium exploration and mining. Among them, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Az.), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, introduces the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act to protect 1 million acres of land around Grand Canyon National Park from mineral extraction.
2012: 20-Year Ban On New Uranium Mining Around The Grand Canyon
After the Interior Department launches an environmental analysis of uranium mining in the area, the Obama administration places a 20-year moratorium on new claims on 1 million acres of federal land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park.
“A withdrawal is the right approach for this priceless American landscape,” says then Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “People from all over the country and around the world come to visit the Grand Canyon. Numerous American Indian tribes regard this magnificent icon as a sacred place and millions of people in the Colorado River Basin depend on the river for drinking water, irrigation, industrial and environmental use. We have been entrusted to care for and protect our precious environmental and cultural resources, and we have chosen a responsible path that makes sense for this and future generations.”
The Department’s study shows new uranium mining could harm natural water sources and possibly increase levels of uranium beyond federal drinking-water standards. Without the withdrawal, there could be 30 uranium mines in the area over the next 20 years, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) estimates. Stating, “Millions of people living in seven states depend on the Colorado River for drinking, irrigation, industrial use. Second, it is likely that the potential impacts to tribal resources could not be mitigated. Any mining within the sacred and traditional places of tribal peoples may degrade the values of those lands to the tribes that use them.”
2017: Pushback On 20-Year Uranium Mining Ban
Former Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) spearheads a movement to repeal the moratorium on uranium mining on federal lands around Grand Canyon National Park, accusing the EIS of overreach. The Trump administration also recommends rolling back the ban on uranium mining in the area. However, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the 20-year ban on new uranium mining on federal land near the Grand Canyon.
2020: Uranium Mining Proposal
Then President Trump proposes $1.5 billion for the nuclear fuel industry to create a U.S. uranium stockpile. Energy Fuels Inc. takes steps to ramp up operations at a uranium mine 15 miles outside Grand Canyon National Park.
2021: USGS Water Study Findings
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study finds that nearly 95% of samples collected from 206 locations in the Grand Canyon region over 40 years show uranium concentrations less than the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level for drinking water. The highest uranium concentrations are observed at springs downslope from the abandoned Orphan Mine within Grand Canyon National Park.
April 2023: Tribal Coalition Pushes For Permanent Protections
The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition calls on President Biden to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.
August 2023: President Biden Designates New Monument
President Biden designates Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The national monument spans 917, 618 acres on the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, to protect indigenous cultural and religious sites and water sources from mineral extraction.
The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument is President Biden’s fifth new monument designation, following the creation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi, the Castner Range National Monument in Texas, Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada and the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.
From our vantage point at Dinosaur National Monument, lying on the ground and staring up at a sky crowded with stars—seriously, an overwhelming number of stars—streaks of green, white, gold and blue flashed across the sky, courtesy of the Perseid meteor shower. We let out audible gasps and cries of “that was a good one!” and “look over there!” like kids at a fireworks show, simultaneously filled with wonder and confronted with the insignificance of our existence. So, if you’re wondering if it’s worth the trip to a certified Dark Sky Park to view the Perseids, the short answer is “yes.” The long answer is “heck yes.”
While stargazing is a rewarding endeavor in and of itself, the Perseids are something special, returning every year and lighting up the sky from mid- to late-August. The Perseids occur with such regularity because every year Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, on its 133-year orbit around the sun, from mid-July to late-August. The Perseid meteor shower peaks when Earth passes through the densest area of the comet trail, usually around Aug. 11-13, but the meteor shower remains visible until Aug. 24 or so.
The Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, Utah (photo courtesy Utah Office of Tourism)
The streaks of light during the Perseids sometimes appear green or other colors, which, according to experts at NASA, is due to the way the meteoroids “excite” oxygen molecules during impact with the atmosphere. That’s the bright light we’re seeing, the meteroid (debris from the comet’s trail) vaporizing upon contact with Earth’s upper atmosphere.
At its peak, and if conditions are right, NASA estimates you’ll be able to see about 40 Perseids each hour. That’s not accounting for the dozens and dozens we can’t see. But the number of meteoroids you see is greatly dependent on the brightness of your sky. According to the NASA blog, the brighter skies of the suburbs greatly cut down the rates of visible meteoroids, going from a Perseid every couple of minutes to one every 6-7 minutes. And if you’re trying to see the Perseids in a city? You might as well stay inside. City dwellers might see a single Perseid or two during the whole hour.
That’s why you haven’t seen a meteor shower, let alone the Perseid meteor shower, until you’ve seen it in a Dark Sky Park, and Utah is perhaps the best place in the world to do it. For reference, viewing the Perseids in Dinosaur National Monument (a Dark Sky Park), it was so dark at night that I could barely see the people lying shoulder-to-shoulder on the ground next to me. We stayed the night at Split Mountain Campground, but any of Dinosaur’s campgrounds, or camping areas at other Dark Sky Parks, will do because your best views are going to be in the early morning hours.
Not far from Dinosaur National Monument, a star viewing party at Steinaker State Park in Uintah County, Utah (photo courtesy Utah Office of Tourism)
Regardless from where you view the Perseids, allow some time—as long as 45 minutes— for your eyes to adjust to the dark. On our meteor-viewing trip to Dinosaur National Monument, we brought along binoculars, but they were seldom used. The best viewing experience is with the naked eye, allowing yourself to take in as much as the sky as you can with your field of vision.
In our recent “Best of the Beehive” feature, we pointed out how the state of Utah is consistently ranked “The Nerdiest State.” One of the biggest components of nerd culture these days is manga/anime. For the uninitiated, manga are Japanese comics (primarily released in black and white volumes) and anime are Japanese cartoons. Like American graphic novels, manga has genres and content for all ages and tastes. According to Polaris Market Research, the Global manga market was valued at 11.68 billion dollars in 2022, with close to half of those sales coming from North America.
With fall and Halloween fast-approaching, we thought now is the perfect time to highlight one of the most acclaimed mangakas (manga artist/writer) in the horror manga space. Junji Ito made his manga debut in 1987 and has gone onto international praise, had multiple adaptations of his work into film and anime, and has won four Eisner Awards (the comic book equivalent of an Oscar). His most popular stories include Tomie, Gyo and Uzumaki, which is currently being produced as an animated series set to hit Adult Swim’s Toonami later this year. Earlier this year, Netflix started streaming Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. But, while the majority of his works are short stories that are collected regularly in volumes (check out Shiver or Smashed for some of his scariest tales), you’re going to want to grab and read Uzumaki if you’re a horror fan.
Mangaka Junji Ito at a gallery exhibition of his work at San Diego Comic Con 2023. (Courtesy Viz Media)
Uzumaki is a story about a coastal Japanese town that slowly becomes obsessed with spirals. From eddies in water, to dust devils, to the shape of a snail’s shell, everyone begins to lose touch with reality and they devote their lives (and bodies) to this magic shape. Things begin to escalate quickly and the body horror kicks into full gear. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is one of the creepiest stories ever created. With the anime coming soon, you’re going to want to grab a copy of the hardcover collection before it sells out.
Pages from Junji Ito’s “UZUMAKI” at the Ito-Verse exhibition at San Diego Comic Con 2023. (Courtesy Viz Media)
VIZ Media has the English-language rights to Junji Ito’s work and has published many volumes. This year at San Diego Comic Con, they set up the Junji Ito Experience—an art exhibition of more than 100 original pages from his long career. Junji Ito himself was a guest of honor at the convention and attended the reception of his exhibition. He’s a kind and unassuming man, very friendly and bashful with his legions of adoring fans. The line of people waiting to talk to him during the reception stretched across the entire gallery space.
Cosplayer dressed as Junji Ito character from “SOICHI” at the Ito-Verse exhibition. “SOICHI” was released July 2023. (Courtesy Viz Media)
The gallery itself was unreal. Original art from manga is not often seen outside of exhibitions (as the artists often keep every page of published work because of different copyright ownership laws in Japan), so to see pages of sheer horror up-close and personal was jaw-dropping. Ito’s work is meticulous, detailed and horrific. The original art highlighted his individual pen strokes, showcased his changes and corrections made with whiteout and allowed viewers to appreciate the apparent limitless display of imagination he conjures with his images.
And while the Junji Ito Experience isn’t traveling from city to city, you can still grab his books from a local book or comic store (try magazine-favorites Black Cat Comics, Legendarium, Dr. Volts or The Nerd Store—if they don’t have them in stock, they can order for you), and get your spooky vibes going before the Uzumaki anime hits Adult Swim and everyone becomes a servant to the spiral.
