Skip to main content
Aug 14
Love0
AdobeStock_249939097-scaled

Hints for Hunting: Be Quiet and Conscientious

By Adventures, Outdoors

Yes, it’s 100 degrees outside and most of us are still thinking of lakes, pools and rivers but another sport starts this weekend that we tend to associate more with buffalo plaid and neon-orange vests than bikinis and life jackets: Archery hunting for bull elk and buck mule deer commences tomorrow (Saturday, August 15) and runs through September 11. (General-season any legal weapon elk hunt runs from Oct. 3-15, and the general-season any legal weapon deer hunt runs from Oct. 17-25.)

Before you start crying about Bambi, remember that hunting is part of maintaining a healthy game population (and that venison is delicious.)

Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources biologists do everything they can to maintain a healthy population of big game—deer, elk, bison, moose, bighorn sheep and pronghorn, capturing and tagging sample animals to learn about migration and herd wellness.

It’s just a fact that humans control the landscape animals live in now and it’s up to us to improve feeding ranges, supply water. And cull. DWR habitat biologists install guzzlers to collect water, remove invasive plants, plant beneficial feed like sagebrush and grasses, repair streams and rehabilitate after wildfires.

They also offer tips to hunters:

Hunt away from the road: If you are hoping to harvest, that is, kill a deer or elk this fall, make sure you are hunting in areas away from the road. “Elk avoid roads, so especially when you are hunting elk, get off the road,” DWR’s Covy Jones says. “Get out and do some hiking and scout to see where these animals are before the hunt begins.”

Look for rugged terrain: When it comes to deer, mature bucks and does are not together during the August archery hunts. So if you are seeing a lot of does in an area, it’s a sign that you should probably move to a different spot. Does have to care for their fawns, so they typically prefer areas where there is a lot of water and the terrain is more gentle, like in rolling aspen groves. “Bucks will gather in herds of little ‘bachelor groups,’ and they like more rugged mountain terrain,” Jones said. “So, if you are looking for a bigger buck, look for terrain that is harder to access.”

Pay attention to the direction of the wind: Another tip for archery hunters is to know the direction of the wind. That way, you can make adjustments and prevent your scent from reaching the animals before you get within range. As the sun heats the ground, the wind direction changes. For example, wind almost always blows up canyons in the morning and down canyons in the afternoon.

To know the direction the wind is blowing, you can buy an inexpensive item called a wind or breeze checker. Releasing powder from the checker will let you know the direction the wind is blowing. Once you’ve determined the direction the wind is blowing, approach the deer from the side (a 90-degree angle) rather than approaching it with the wind in your face (at a 180-degree angle). If you approach with the wind in your face and then the wind shifts and starts blowing from your back, it’ll blow your scent directly to the deer. Approaching from the side lessens the chance that a wind shift will carry your scent to the deer.

Be prepared for the weather and possible emergencies: Hunters should also be prepared for any weather and should always have a first-aid kit and plenty of water with them. The weather in Utah’s mountains can change very quickly and go from sunny to snowing in a matter of minutes, so hunters need to be prepared with adequate clothing and supplies.

Use binoculars and be stealthy: Having success during the archery hunt requires stealth and patience. For example, if you’re going to spot and stalk, don’t walk through the woods, hoping to find a deer without spooking it. Instead, spend time looking through binoculars at an area to find deer and locate where they’re bedding. Then, after they’ve bedded down, plan your stalk, remaining quiet and doing all you can to approach the deer at an angle that keeps your scent from reaching the deer.

“Stealth and knowing the wind direction are more important for archery hunters than for rifle hunters, as archery hunters need to get closer to the animal to be effective,” Jones said. “It all depends on the hunter and their skill level, and equipment, but typically, most bows have sights that allow for shooting at 60 yards or less. And typically, the accuracy of most rifles starts to decline between 300-400 yards. I recommend not trying to ‘overshoot’ with your equipment and to stick with a distance where you are comfortable. You should also always know what is beyond your target before taking a shot.”

Do your research before heading out: It is also a good idea to visit the Utah Hunt Planner before heading out into the field. This great online resource includes notes from the biologists who manage the various hunting units across the state, as well as general information about the units and safety and weather items. You can see information about the number of bucks on the units, compared to the number of does. You’ll also find maps that show the units’ boundaries, which land is public and private, and the various types of deer habitat on the unit.

Harvesting the meat: After you harvest a deer or elk, don’t hang it in a tree to try to cool the meat. The hot temperatures (especially during the archery hunts) can spoil it. Plus, hanging a deer or elk in a tree might draw bears into your campsite. Instead, cut the animal up in the field and remove the meat from the bone. After removing the meat, place it in a cooler. “Dry ice can be used to cool the meat quickly and keep it cool for a prolonged period,” Jones says. “You want to keep the meat as cool as possible until you can process it and get it into your freezer.”

 

Aug 12
Love0
Thanksgiving_turkey_dinner

Thanksgiving Dinner: Take Out or Dine In

By Eat & Drink

Turkey-time is just around the corner, which means buying, preparing, and serving the food, plus clean up. But this year, things are obviously a bit different. So instead of stressing out to prepare a meal, help support local restaurants who need our help this Thanksgiving. Oh and did we mention no family-sized mess to clean up afterward? That’s a win-win in our book.

Read our updated list for 2021.

Salt Lake City and Surrounding Areas:

Hearth on 25th: Hearth on 25th’s Thanksgiving Feast usually comes in portions that serve 6, but this year they are offering the FEAST in a 2-serving portion size, as we know many families will be celebrating in smaller groups. Feel free to order as many FEASTS as you will need to serve your family! Hearth on 25th’s Turkey Feast serves 2 and consists of:

-Turkey breasts, legs and thighs, slow cooked and wood oven roasted.
-Pan gravy from the overnight turkey drippings.
-Italian sausage and focaccia stuffing made with turkey stock.
-Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes, light and fluffy, ready for some gravy.
-Wood Oven roasted vegetables with applewood smoked bacon.
-Cranberry, ginger and orange chutney.
-Soft dinner rolls perfect for dinner or leftovers.
-Roasted sweet potatoes with a maple reduction and candied pecans.

They are also offering Thanksgiving themed desserts such as pumpkin pie cake, apple pecan pie and carrot cake.

195 25th Street, suite 6 Ogden UT 84401|801-399-0088 https://www.hearth25.com

Provisions SLC:  Pre Order Thanksgiving take away dinners now! Limited quantities, order online for pickup on Thanksgiving day.  Also for dine in on Thanksgiving, join Provisions for three course dinner! $60 adults, $20 kids, see events tab for menu on instagram. To order now, click here.

Arlo Restaurant (Vegan and Vegetarian options): We would love to help make your Thanksgiving delicious and special! Scroll through our list of dishes and then enter your contact info and preferences in the fields provided. We are happy to cater to vegan and special diets! Please specify yours as you order an item. Your receipt and confirmation will be emailed to you shortly after you submit the order. Order by 5pm on Sunday, Nov 22nd for pickup on Wednesday, Nov 25th or Thursday, Nov 26th. Click here to order online.

SLC Eatery: SLC Eatery is offering a curbside Thanksgiving dinner to make things easier for all of us this Holiday season, with turkey, prime rib, and organic salmon dinners that serves 4. Plus each dinner comes with all the fixings: Smoked Potato Puree, Brussels Sprout + Butternut Squash Gratin, Bacon Furikake-Walnut Crunch, Green Apple-Radicchio Salad, Poppy Seed-Maple Vinaigrette, Bleu Cheese, Blistered Chinese Long Beans, Shiitake Mushroom Sauce, Crispy Shallot, Japanese Milk Bread Rolls. Click here to order online.

Pago (Vegan+Vegetarian options): As we all spend more time at home in the coming weeks, the Pago team developed an easy way for you to enjoy chef prepared meals with our Thanksgiving Meal Kits. Omnivore Thanksgiving Meal Kits are $75 per two servings, Vegetarian and Vegan Meal Kits are $45 per two servings. Both selections will be fully cooked and ready for you to re-heat in the oven prior to serving. Purchase your kit today and pick up Wednesday 11/25 between 12-4pm. View the full menu here. 

Meal kits feature our farm to table take on classic Thanksgiving fare, like honey and herb roasted turkey breast with stuffing, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy plus three seasonal sides and dessert. If your family prefers a vegetarian or vegan meal, Chef Phelix is cooking up some comforting dishes including farro and mushroom stuffed squash and crispy whole potatoes with black garlic leeks and fried sage.

Purchase your Thanksgiving meal kit online here.

Veneto Ristorante Italiano: Is offering curbside pick up for holiday dishes to contribute to your table! Lasagna and bread, mac n cheese, crostata, apple strudel and gelato! Click here for more info or to place an order.

Cafe Niche: Cafe Niche is open for dine in and take out. With Thanksgiving inspired entrees such as traditional turkey dinner: apple stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy. And new takes like almond crusted steelhead salmon: roasted sweet potato, arugula remoulade. Order online here.

Cucina Wine Bar: Is offering a Thanksgiving dinner to go with turkey and all the fixings you could want…Mashed potatoes, stuffing, and seasonal vegetables. Click here to order online.

Flemings: Experience a memorable Thanksgiving whether it’s around our table or around yours at home. Order Flemings 3 course Thanksgiving family menu online and pick up curbside starting 10 AM, Thursday, November 26.  Click here to order online.

Oquirrh: Is accepting Thanksgiving pre-orders now. Each dinner is served with a choice of one main, two sides, two sauces and a slice of pie. Full size pie, sourdough bread and ice cream is available a la carte. Call 801-359-0426 or email oquirrhinfo@gmail.com

Tuscany: They’ll be offering a special holiday menu. The holiday menu includes traditional flavors such as turkey, sweet potatoes, and gravy. Don’t forget about classic Thanksgiving dessert, Tuscany is offering a wide variety of homemade pies. Call 801.277.9919 to reserve a table or order to-go.

Hearth and Hill: Two curbside family meal options will be available to feed 6 guests ($175) or 10 guests ($290). Thanksgiving feasts include Utah Free Range Organic Turkey, Mashed Potatoes & Herb Gravy, Skillet Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Pomegranate, Traditional Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, and Cheddar Biscuits. Tasty extras are also available such as Truffle Mac & Cheese, Hummus & Veggies, Silverqueen Cheese with Mostarda, an extra dozen Cheddar Biscuits, Streusel SLC Pecan or Pumpkin Pie, and Normal SLC Ice Cream. All orders must be submitted by Monday, Nov. 23. To reserve your Thanksgiving feast, call 435-200-8840.

The Grand America Hotel: The Grand America Hotel and Little America Hotel look forward to bringing comfort and warmth to your home with our Thanksgiving Takeout. Little America Salt Lake’s Executive Chef, Bernhard Götz, will prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey breast, sides, and dessert. Your takeout meal is fully cooked and will be ready to serve with warming instructions included. Click here to order online.

Spice Kitchen Incubator: is excited to announce a special opportunity to support-by-eating this holiday season! Pre-order a Gourmet Sweets and Treats box, or compliment your table with the Holiday Feast box – each purchase supports 4 new American entrepreneurs. Click here to for more info/to order.

Park City:

350 Main: Enjoy a Thanksgiving Prix Fixe Dinner with the choice of a mixed greens with Sherry Vinaigrette, Point Reyes Blue Cheese and Toasted Pecans, Chestnut Soup or 305’s Classic Tuna Tartare with Wasabi Cream and Avocado. For the main course, choose from Seared Venison Loin with Fig and Walnut Chutney, Cedar Plank Salmon with Stoneground Mustard Glaze, Pheasant Pot Pit, Herb Rubbed Turkey Breast with Gravy, just to name a few. The main course is followed by a wide selection of delicious desserts. Call 435-649-3140 to make your reservations.

Butcher’s Chop House & Bar: Enjoy a two-Course Thanksgiving menu from 2:00 – 10:00pm with traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and more followed by your choice of pecan or pumpkin pie. Regular menu is also available. Adults are $38, and children are $19. Reservations are recommended and can be made on Resy.com or by calling the restaurant directly at 435-647-0040. To-go and curbside pickup is also available.

Cuisine Unlimited: Cuisine Unlimited can prepare, package and deliver your Thanksgiving meal right to your door or you can pick up on Thanksgiving from the Cuisine Unlimited kitchens. Visit the website for the full menu offering and ordering online details.

Deer Valley Bakery: Let Deer Valley Bakery handle the final course of Thanksgiving dinner with traditional pumpkin, pecan, apple, blueberry, and cherry pies, Deer Valley Jumbo Cookies, carrot cake, chocolate truffle cake, and housemade baguettes. Place orders by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 23, and pick up orders by 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, at the Deer Valley Grocery~Café. Place orders by calling Deer Valley Grocery~Café at 435-615-2400.

Deer Valley Grocery~Café: Take-away items to complement your Thanksgiving dinner include lemon thyme sauce, cranberry chutney, roasted garlic mashers, roasted heirloom carrots, green bean au gratin, and roasted apple stuffing. Place orders by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 23, and pick up orders by 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, at the Deer Valley Grocery~Café. Place orders by calling Deer Valley Grocery~Café at 435-615-2400.

The Eating Establishment: The Eating Establishment will be open Thanksgiving Day serving their long-time locals favorite menu, as well as a prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner menu, $60 for adults and $25 for kids. Click here for more info.

Flanagan’s on Main: Open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Flanagan’s will offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Start with butternut squash or a house salad, and move on to turkey breast with homemade mashers, brown gravy, stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce before finishing the meal with homemade pumpkin cheesecake. $36 for adults and $19 kids under 12. Guests are encouraged to make reservations as space is limited to ensure social distancing. Reservations can be made by calling 435-649-8600 or online.

Fletcher’s: Fletcher’s Thanksgiving menu provides (2) proteins including roasted turkey and mushroom stuffed beef tenderloin, (1) salad, (3) sides to choose from like caramelized Brussels sprouts, mac and cheese, and squash & sweet mini pepper saute, and (1) dessert such as pecan pie, Fletcher’s famous butter cake, and Marina’s world-famous carrot cake. All orders come with 1/2 quart of cranberry chutney, cheddar chive biscuits (6) and bacon jam. $60 per person, 4 person minimum per order. All food is served in disposable, aluminum pans for easy reheating in the oven. To place your order email chefscott@fletcherspc.com, info@fletchers.com, or give us a call at 435-649-1111. All orders must be placed by November 22, 2020.

The Grub Steak: Enjoy a full Thanksgiving menu of corn & roasted pepper soup, house salad, carved roasted tom turkey, autumn harvest stuffing, gravy, green beans, mashers, citrus cranberry relish, pumpkin pie, or spiced apple bread pudding. $38.75 for adults and $18.75 for children under 12. For more info, click here.

Hearth and Hill: Hearth and Hill will be open Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for curbside pick-up, and taking dine-in reservations from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The full a la carte menu will be available, plus a turkey plate for $32 including Mary’s Organic Turkey, mashed potatoes, herb gravy, cranberry sauce, skillet roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and pomegranate, traditional stuffing, and cheddar biscuits. Two curbside family meal options will be available including Mary’s Organic Turkey for 12 guests for $350 or $29 per person, or for 18 guests for $500 or $27.75 per person. Meals must be ordered no later than November 23, and pick up is Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more info, click here.

Luna’s Kitchen: Choose from a variety of party platters, delicious side dishes such as stuffed acorn squash, sage and apple stuffing, and winter black kale salad, among others to compliment your meal as well as a variety of desserts including apple pie, pumpkin cheesecake or coconut almond gooey cake. Black Friday Breakfast offerings include ooey gooey cinnamon rolls, quiche, and a fall bakery box. All orders come cold with heating instructions. Orders must be placed by Monday November 20, at midnight. Orders after this date will incur an “11th hour fee”—an additional 20% of the order, or a flat $50 fee, whichever is greater. The cutoff for late orders is Monday, November 23, at midnight. Orders are available for pick up on Wednesday, November 25, and Thursday, November 26. To order, click here.

No Name Saloon: Dinner served directly to your table beginning at 2 p.m. while supplies last. The full regular menu will also be available from 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Click here for more info.

Powder at Waldorf Astoria Park City: Share a home-cooked family-style meal with friends and loved ones at Powder. Enjoy a choice of lobster velouté, mâche & fall apple or venison carpaccio & quail egg followed by the choice of Mary’s Organic Turkey, 14-hour braised short rib of beef, spot prawns & seared diver scallop or sweet potato gnocchi. Dessert is pumpkin mousse or Utah apple tart or flourless chocolate terrine. $95 for adults and $45 for children ages 4 – 12. Click here for more info.

Riverhorse Provisions: Riverhorse Provisions will offer a carry-out for four holiday menu including butter poached shrimp cocktail, butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, honey baked ham, classic sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, fresh baked rosemary focaccia and pumpkin pie. The holiday menu is served cold with re-heat instructions and are available in oven-ready containers. Call 435-649-0799 or email orders@riverhorseprovisions.com.

Windy Ridge Café & Bakery: Enjoy the comfort of home with Windy Ridge Café + Bakery’s Thanksgiving to-go menu. A complete Thanksgiving meal for 4 ($48) includes sliced house roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pan gravy, mixed greens salad, and dinner rolls. A selection of a la carte sides may be added, along with fresh baked pies and breakfast quiches. Order online at parkcitythanksgiving.com and take advantage of convenient curbside pick-up. Baked goods are fully cooked and ready to reheat and serve with warming instructions included. All orders must be placed by November 21, and order pick-up is only available on November 25. Click here for more info.

For more eat and drink, click here.

Aug 12
Love0
Thors-Hammer-and-teh-Amphitheater-Bryce-Canyon-National-Park-Matt-Morgan_Large-scaled

Turn Your Phone into an Off-The-Grid Communication Lifeline

By Adventures, Outdoors

Off-the-grid outdoor experiences are one of the few pleasures that have made it through the COVID-19 pandemic relatively unscathed. Spending time in the outdoors with your family or QuaranTeam appears a healthy activity, giving many in Utah a much-needed outlet. With that said, it’s more important than ever to be able to communicate with others which can often be challenging when you’re on a 700-mile bikepacking route in Bears Ears or just doing some stargazing near Capitol Reef State Park. Cell service doesn’t always play nicely with remote adventure, when being able to call for help in an emergency or check in with loved ones is essential. Utah-based company BivyStick is looking to change that with innovative, affordable devices that turn your cellphone into a satellite-enabled lifeline.

“We want to help people mitigate the uncertainty and risk that comes with spending time outside,” says BivyStick marketing director Sus Edmundson. “The company’s foudner, Vance Cook, was climbing Everest when a devastating earthquake struck, and he wasn’t able to contact anyone to let them know he was okay. That experience and having to hunker down in a cave overnight while climbing the Grand Teton were catalysts that led to creation of BivyStick.”

BivyStick is a durable, waterproof lifeline when you’re in the backcountry.

There are other emergency communication devices available from the  likes of Garmin or SPOT, but those are primarily SOS devices that don’t let you communicate details or require expensive hardware and onerous contracts. BivyStick, on the other hand, is used in conjunction with an app on your cellphone and comes with flexible payment plans. “The advantage of using an application is users can upgrade it just like they would any other app on their phone,” explains Edmundson. Once you’ve purchased the base unit, the user interface is easily updated from the app store, and because it’s on a cellphone most people will find it intuitive to use.

BivyStick connects to your phone via Bluetooth, linking it to a satellite network. This won’t turn your phone into a wifi hotspot or connect you to a cellular network. Instead it uses a dedicated messaging and mapping application that allows you to send text messages and navigate accurately, and it should work from any open air place on earth. There’s also a direct link to emergency services using an SOS feature that completely bypasses the app if you get into real trouble. You can purchase a set number of satellite credits before you head out beyond the bounds of cellular service, allowing for flexibility that should suit a lot of outdoor users.

So BivyStick isn’t a tool to let you check your email and text your boss while deep in the wilderness, but it does provide a link to check in with friends and family to let them know your progress or call for help in an emergency. Everyone from serious backpackers looking to explore deep in Utah’s canyon country, to overland 4×4 drivers far from paved roads, to families looking to stay connected on weekend getaways can enjoy the peace of mind BivyStick offers. Flexible messaging and payment options make this satellite communication option more accessible than ever before. Visit the BivyStick website for complete details.

Read more outdoor coverage here.

Aug 11
Love0
MOTO-FASHION-2-scaled

Motorcycles & Fashion: Ready to Ride

By Lifestyle

It’s all about the road, the risk and the ride. More and more Americans are taking to the road on motorcycles—in 2018, 13,158,100 motorcycles were being used and that number is rising every day. Right now, especially, the reason seems obvious: Cooped-up Americans can taste adventure and feel freedom on a bike, while “practicing the ultimate social distancing.”

Here are 5 great rides.
(There are lots more).

1. Highway 150 (The Mirror Lake Highway)
Especially at this time of year, the Mirror Lake Highway is a road treasure. Winding through evergreen and deciduous forest providing a colorful mosaic of changing leaves, the curving, well-kept road is the route to a sparkling alpine lake with snow-capped mountains all around. This is one of the highest roads in Utah.

2. Highway 12
One of the most scenic and thrilling rides in Utah or anywhere, Highway 12 goes over Boulder Mountain through Grand-Staircase-Escalante National Monument to Kodachrome Basin and by Bryce Canyon National Park. Towering red rock formations shelter the river below, lined with bright yellow cottonwood trees in the fall. Escalante and the town of Boulder have good food—Burr Trail Grill and Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, particularly.

3. Wolfcreek Pass | UT-35
Another high-elevation road with gorgeous mountain views of the San Juan mountains from Heber to Hanna. This road may be snowed in or iced over in winter, so check conditions before you set out.

4. Mount Nebo Loop
Designated a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration, Mount Nebo Loop threads through the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest from Nephi to Payson, past Devil’s Kitchen and by the Mount Nebo Wilderness.

5. Bicentennial Scenic Byway
The star of this ride is the Glen Canyon Bridge spanning man-made Lake Powell, but there are steep red rock canyons along the way and Natural Bridges National Park has lots of, yes, natural bridges, as well as some of the darkest night skies in the state, if you want to stop and look up.

That’s a joke, but it’s also the truth, according to Vance Harrison, owner of Harrison Eurosports which sells BMW, Ducati and Triumph bikes.

A 1962 650cc Triumph TR6R is what actor Steve McQueen rode in the famous scene from The Great Escape. (Actually, stuntman Bud Ekins did the scene, but the bike is forever associated with McQueen, the coolest guy ever to ride a motorcycle.)

Motorcycles have always been associated with cool, badass guys—Marlon Brando in The Wild Ones, Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. Tom Cruise, whose image goes along with these guys, owns one of the most powerful and expensive motorcycle collections in the world. And many motorcycle enthusiasts work in high-risk jobs—heart surgeons, active military, airline pilots—and they tend to want the same adrenaline rush in their recreation that they get from their occupation. Motorcycles are risky—although they have more safety features than ever before, it still requires full concentration to drive a bike. You can’t drive a bike the way you drive a car.

But now motorcycles are also associated with cool, badass women, orthodontists, lawyers and family guys, says Harrison. All kinds of people are riding. “It’s the life dream of some people,” he says. “They come in here and say, “All my life I’ve wanted to ride a motorcycle. Now I’m retired, I’ve got the time and the money and I’m going to do it.”

Harrison and his staff of enthusiasts are there to help first-time riders of any age, match them with the right bike, coach them, even introduce them to others on the road via organized rides around Utah.

Motorcycles have changed along with the riders.

“Every time automobile designers come up with a new safety feature, it makes its way to motorcycles,” says Taylor Brody, marketing director for Harrison. For example, motorcycles have airbags now, and so do motorcycle jackets.

Safety is the huge concern; Harrison offers a refresher safety class every year. Car drivers tend not to see motorcycles; two wheels just don’t register. “Pretend you’re invisible when you ride” is what Harrison’s safety class teaches. That why last year the Utah legislature passed a lane-altering law, allowing bikes to “go to the front of the line” at a red light. It’s safer that way, the drivers will see you. Engineers are working on a self-balancing bike and BMW uses the same brake system in its bikes as it does in its cars.

That’s all good but you don’t think “safe!” when you see a room full of gleaming motorcycles. You think “cool.”

Harrison is the third-largest motorcycle dealer in the country. Why? “Because we’re in Utah,” he grins. Another joke, but the point is, Utah has some of the best landscape in the world to ride a motorcycle around in. “I went on a trip to Morocco to ride,” Vance recalls. “It was amazing—the landscape, the high desert. Then I came back to Utah and said, why did I ever leave?”

It’s true that groups from all over the world come on motorcycle tours to Utah and the rest of the American West to experience some of the best rides in the world. Ride on.

Credits:

Photos / Adam Finkle

Styling / Farasha, Vanessa Di Palma Wright

Hair & makeup / Nikki Breedlove

Art Direction / Jeanine Miller

Model / Keilara McCormick for TMG

Check out motorcycles at https://www.harrisoneurosports.com/

Aug 06
Love0
red-hand-print-hi

The Wrath of Sim Gill. Be Careful With Red Paint

By City Watch

Be careful with that red paint SLC, you may get a life sentence. Our county district attorney Sim Gill is prepared to throw the book at protestors with first-degree felony charges. These are going towards seven individuals who attended the July 9, 2020 “Justice for Bernardo” rally and are being accused of vandalizing public property, including the front of SL County D.A. Sim Gill’s office with red paint.

As a recap, on May 23, 2020, Salt Lake City police officers fired 34 shots at 22-year-old Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal who was running away from them, and a body camera captured it all. In July 2019, the Salt Lake City Police Department, Sim Gill, and a Police Civilian Review Board determined and exonerated the two officers who killed Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal, claiming that they were “in policy” when they shot him.

In the SL Trib, “Gill defended the charges Wednesday, saying prosecutors weren’t the ones trying to make it political. He said they looked at the evidence in front of them: that those charged allegedly caused more than $5,000 in damage and they worked in a group to cause that damage. That’s why what is normally a second-degree felony, he says, was bumped to a first-degree.”

Sim, a conflict of interest perhaps? An SLC resident on the @sltrib IG page sums it up nicely:

“So are they seriously just going to ignore the fact that rapists and pedophiles and those who commit human trafficking commit more serious crimes that truly affect and damage people’s lives but they are worried about the people who committed these crimes??? WTF is wrong with our justice system!!!”

Yeah, Sim wtf.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhm7x9ArRX/

Aug 06
Love0
SLC-Skyline-2048x575-1

Lauren McCluskey: When Officers Betray Trust

By City Watch

You are a young woman, a student at the University of Utah with a clean record, who is being threatened and is receiving death threats from an ex and needs protection. You hand personal and very private information as evidence, including explicit photos to police, who have sworn not only to protect you but are getting paid to do it. One of those officers ends up taking that evidence, your photos, to enjoy at their leisure, boast about how cute you are to their colleagues, and pass it along. Meanwhile, you are killed by your ex.

On October 22, 2018, 21-year old Lauren McCluskey was shot and killed outside her University of Utah campus dormitory by the accused.

Salt Lake magazine covered the heartbreaking murder of the 23-year-old University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck last year in Lover for Sale. Mackenzie’s murder took place in the summer of 2019, while U of U student Lauren McCluskey’s was in 2018. We chose not to mention Lauren’s story in this particular article merely because we classified it in another victim category, but wish to call out her name today. Because of new reports we have learned that Lauren McCluskey was indeed victimized by more than just her ex.

In her memory, the Lauren McCluskey Foundation @LMC_Foundation honors Lauren’s legacy by supporting charitable work in her name. Let Her Light Shine. #ForLauren laurenmccluskey.org

When an individual is being stalked, harassed or threatened, and goes to government authorities with evidence, it should be taken seriously. The response of this particular officer (and those who didn’t speak up) brings that into serious question. And, with the BLM protests, incidents such as this, and most recently the excessive force displayed by local officers at a Cottonwood Heights protest on Monday, August 3, 2020, the need for local citizen review boards, police reform, just prosecution, de-escalation training, and yes defunding are gaining momentum.

Lauren McCluskey’s story from The Salt Lake Tribune: University of Utah police officer shows explicit photos of Lauren McCluskey to his co-workers.

“Days before student-athlete Lauren McCluskey was killed, a @universityofutah police officer showed off explicit photos that McCluskey had taken of herself to at least three of his male co-workers without a work-related reason, according to a months-long investigation from the Utah Department of Public Safety…
⁠
The state’s final report reinforces and expands on The Tribune’s reporting, concluding the images were displayed inappropriately at the end of a staff briefing in October 2018 by the same officer who was supposed to be investigating McCluskey’s concerns of exploitation by a man she had dated.⁠”

Aug 04
Love0
braids

3 Places to Get Your Hair Done

By Lifestyle

My hair mojo is wash and go, but then again, sometimes it’s nice to try a new look. It’s also very nice to get pampered. Like how? Like when someone hands you a mug of coffee first thing in the am, or surprises you with an icy cold beer from a river cooler after a long hike. Here’s another: To have someone take charge of styling your hair.

3 Places to Go When You Don’t Want to 

1. Blo Dry Bar (Best of the Beehive 2019)

things to do in sugarhouse“Once in a while, isn’t it nice to let someone take over and do the heavy hairstyle lifting? Take a load off your shoulders, arms, wrists and hands and let the folks at the Blo Dry Bar take on your next full blowout, classic up-do, or create a fancy fishtail braid.”

202 E. Wilmington Ave. Suite 150, SLC, 801-466-2090, blomedry.com

2. The Drybar—Sugar House

1133 E. Wilmington Ave., SLC, 385-429-5334, thedrybar.com

3. STYLD’ Blow Dry Bar

602 E 500 South (Trolley Square), SLC, 801-609-7718, styldblowdrybar.com

 

With face mask, I entered the newly opened Drybar salon (formerly Jamba Juice) in Sugar House last Saturday. It no longer resembles JJ or smells like fruit smoothies, instead envision an open, bright and cheerful salon. Not meant for cuts, colors or perms, this is a place to get your hair deep washed, conditioned and styled as desired. The Drybar along with a few other local styling-only/blow-out salons have popped up to meet the demand of many, who would enjoy a professionally trained hairstylist who knows how to use the products and has the magic trick tools to make it happen.

Braiding one’s hair or taking on a radical updo is difficult if not impossible to do yourself, so if that’s the look you want, having it done is a bit of a luxury ($45-90.) My stylist earned every penny because she had to power through my extremely thick hair, using styling products to protect from heat damage, and flat iron to fully straighten. Being far from my everyday look, I did enjoy it. My hair felt soft, shiny and smooth enough that my friends/daughters had to touch it in disbelief. Yep, that gal below is me with straight hair, I got “Mandy Moored.”

 

With COVID-19 still going strong, the Drybar salon is taking safety measures: practicing safe distancing between clients and requiring the use of masks. Although most public events have been canceled—you can still show-off your hair on Zoom. Indulge!

Jul 31
Love0
WT0C4397

Ding-dong, Water Witch is back!

By Eat & Drink

How would you run a bar during a pandemic?  It’s a math problem, really, involving square footage, cost of food and drink, number of checks, number of customers. After a couple months of closure, the three owners of Water Witch (Matt Pfohl, Sean Neves, Scott Gardner) have their answer.

water witch

Water Witch, one of Salt Lake’s most beloved bars, re-opened softly this week.

Pre-COVID, the tiny place, owned by three of the best bartenders in town, used to pack people inside shoulder to shoulder and out on to the patio even in fairly foul weather.

water witch

“Now we can seat 13 people inside,” says co-owner Sean Neves, “with 10 more outside.”

It’s obviously going to be hard to turn a profit based on those numbers, but the Witch has a couple things going in its favor. Magic bartender co-owner Scott Gardner has been in his laboratory inventing incredibly creative craft cocktails, a bit of a turn for the Witch which has always prided itself on its lack of pretension.

“The Tequila Drink” (Gardner is great with ingredients but doesn’t care about titles.) features watermelon juice, verjus rouge, tequila, honey and a bit of citric acid (tart, but avoiding invasive overtones of lime or lemon), is then hand-carbonated, finished with a watermelon ice cube and served in a tajin-rimmed glass.

water witch

Another drink features a smoke-filled bubble on top of the glass—which just burst in regular Witcher Aaron Weslow’s face.

Or you can order brandy with a touch of truffle. With that, order from the touch-free menu—a variety of imported tinned fish, a waffled grilled cheese, pate. “We’re really thinking of ourselves as a cocktail restaurant,” says Gardner. “Ticket prices will be higher per person, but we have more to offer.”

During its closure, the Witch has installed a plexi glass shield, modified the HVAC system with a germicidal air scrubber and installed electrostatic airscrubbers. Returning Witch devotees—and that’s the second thing this bar has going for it: extreme loyalists—will be safe and delighted. Call ahead for reservations or crowd estimates. Call 801-462-0967 or email info@waterwitch.

waterwitchbar.com

For more food and drink, click here.

Jul 30
Love0
Robs-TH-Sign-e1596064379192

Trailhead Parking Issues Embroil Park City

By City Watch

Maybe it’s because the pandemic has shut down nearly all forms of indoor recreation. Maybe it’s because the Salt Lake Valley is at its hottest this time of year. Maybe it’s because hiking, mountain biking and running on trails is fun, and those activities are becoming increasingly popular. Whatever the reason, trailheads in Park City have been extremely popular this summer, and overflow parking has spilled into residential areas. Once again, the natives are getting restless, and county officials are pledging to do something about it.

Summit County had deemed it necessary to ramp up enforcement of parking restrictions at busy trailheads after increased signage and attempts at education have failed to curtail problems ranging from serious—illegal parking blocking emergency access routes—to less severe—neighbors complaining about mountain bikers tailgating in neighborhoods. Enforcement, which will progress from education to ticketing and towing, is scheduled to begin on July 29 after the necessary code changes were implemented.

The trailheads where overcrowding has been acutely felt are in Summit Park at the top of Parley’s Canyon and at Rob’s Trailhead near the Utah Olympic Park. These trailheads are popular with multiple user groups, and they’re easily accessible for people coming up from Salt Lake for some quick recreation after work. Many observers, as noted by a litany of editorials in local media, have pointed to trail users who live outside of Summit County as the primary culprits, and even some county officials have echoed that sentiment. One proposed solution that seems to be gaining traction is for out of county trail users—who do not pay for trail construction and maintenance through property taxes—to pay an access fee, such as for a parking permit.

To quote Jon Snow, “It’s a bad plan.” The trail system in Park City has become the centerpiece of the area’s economy during non-skiing months. Exact figures are disputed, but out-ot-town trail users bring a lot of revenue to local restaurants, shops and bars in Old Town, in Snyderville Basin and throughout the County. Local business alone never before has and is a long way from being able to sustain the economy up here. Trails are what attract people to the area. Adding an obstacle to access isn’t going to fix the problem, but it will create others.

Chaotic trailhead parking is far from a new topic, as evinced by this article in the Park Record from MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AGO bemoaning the very same issues. Color me shocked it hasn’t been resolved and Park City residents are bemoaning the inconvenience while resisting any infrastructure that could help alleviate the problem. I’ve lived in Park City for over a decade, which makes me either a rotten local curmudgeon or an insurgent new arrival depending on who you ask. Whichever you’d like to peg me as is fine, but I’ve been around long enough to see locals engage in NIMBYism when convenient and decry it at other times.

I also happen to live in one of the “afflicted” areas in Summit Park. There are real problems; certainly blocked emergency access isn’t good. But as far as revelry near the trailheads are concerned, I consider that a collateral issue that comes with the privilege of living within shouting distance from a desirable trailhead. Sorry. Things are even trickier during a pandemic. Everyone is driving solo to the trailheads, and public transit use is way down. That’s going to be an issue for a while longer, but it won’t last forever. I hope.

Increased enforcement is inevitable and probably a good thing, but elitist attitudes and access fees to use public land that are the primary draw to a resort town aren’t going to solve anything. It’s no different than us Summit County residents driving over to ski powder in the Cottonwood Canyons. We can’t have it both ways, so let’s all take a deep breath.

Read more of our community coverage here.

Jul 29
Love0
Liberty-market-harvest

Liberty Park: The Lady of Liberty

By Community

At the heart of the Liberty Wells community is Liberty Park and at the heart of Liberty Park is Valerie Vaughn. Ask a Liberty Wells resident— they describe Vaughn using words like “tireless” and “supportive.” She’s first to come and last to leave in her volunteer efforts, serving on the council, managing several community gardens, attending park events. Plus, she founded the Liberty Park Farmers’ Market.

About Valerie’s vibrant community spirit and wish to serve others, Zachary Bartholomew, organizer of Liberty Park’s annual British Field Day says, “This strong woman deserves some credit, which she’d never ask for.” On market days, with great enthusiasm, volunteers and vendors run to greet her with open arms, and heck, we don’t blame them one bit. Fridays June-October, 4 pm. until dusk libertyparkmarket.com.

What is the Liberty Park Farmers Market?

This market helps support local farms and businesses by bringing fresh local produce directly to the Liberty Wells community. A smaller, more intimate market experience than the big Downtown Farmers Market, offering a handful of fresh produce, eggs and honey vendors, as well as arts and craft vendors. Accepts DUFB.

The History

It’s a stretch to think about the city of Salt Lake some 140 years ago. But if you could—you would see the beginnings of a new centralized city park. Back in 1881, 80 acres were purchased by the city, and even before that, Brigham Young had trees planted there.

The purpose of a park is to allow the community access to a safe, beautiful, open green area to recreate. As a park, over the years many things have been added, and Liberty is unique because of its pure underground stream, and if you haven’t stopped to drink at one of its water fountains, we advise you to take a sip.

For more information about the L.P. Famers Market, click here.

For more food and drink, click here.