Month: October 2013
Nerd Alert: Literary Death Match Makes Its Rounds at The...
Founder of the Literary Death Match, Adrian Todd Zuniga, has transformed the idea that literary readings are reserved for the high brow and dull by creating a reading competition that pits local authors against each other to face head to head. The State Room was an excellent choice of venue with ample seating and ease of visibility, and as the booze flowed, the authors took their stance in the corners to meet their opponents. Four authors, three judges, two rounds and an epic finale. Let’s get ready to rumble! … read more
The Lucky 13 Challenge: Hopscotch Outreach Arts Foundation Meats Its...
Ten burgers, mammoth beef towers the size of a human head, were carried gingerly on trays to our table at the bar and grill, Lucky 13. Last Wednesday evening this moment marked the beginning of the Lucky 13 Challenge, which had begun for five members of Hopscotch Outreach Arts Foundation, a new non-profit organization that empowers at-risk and underprivileged youth by harnessing their creative spirit in music, art, dance and film. … read more
R&R Barbecue: Award-Winning Eats
Barbecue has always played by its own rules, which don’t usually coincide with those of most restaurants. It takes no shame in its finger-licking messiness, its closely guarded recipe secrets or its proclivity for gigantic portions. Be that as it may, I was present at KUER’s Savory Salt Lake event last June when R&R Barbecue took home both the Celebrity Judge and the People’s Choice awards—it was a moment that made me stop and take notice. … read more
Jed’s: The Friendly Neighborhood Barber Shop
People have been going to the barber to keep up with their hygiene as well as to fraternize with their neighbors. The act of getting one’s hair cut is so personal and intimate that it is not uncommon for a barber to become a person’s confidant. The barber shop as a place for neighbors and camaraderie is an ideal that Jed Beal holds close to his heart. He opened Jed’s Barbershop not only for himself, but to also give back to his community. … read more
Somebody Else’s Baby: Understanding the Mechanics of Andy Farnsworth
Andy wanted to do a show here in SLC that granted comics the same opportunity to perform a set-list style of comedy. Since the idea is actually somebody else’s baby, he named the show just that: Somebody Else’s Baby. Farnsworth says, “Each time, we feature a picture of a new baby on the screen. Sometimes I steal the pictures from the photography studio on South Temple, the giant babies with the hoods.” … read more
Studios Among Us
Have you noticed that giant EA logo at the corner of 300 South and State? EA Salt Lake, formerly Headgate Studios, began producing software in 1992 and moved from its original home in Bountiful to downtown SLC in July of 2010. Originally strictly developing for Sierra Entertainment, they went on to produce Tiger Woods Golf for PC before being purchased and rolled into the fold of EA. I had one simple mission: to play the new Sims 3: Into the Future Expansion and make it my bitch. … read more
Dig This: The Pyrate Punx
Keeping the spirit of punk alive and well, the Pyrate Punx are a force to be reckoned with. Fed up with a lack of decent, underground gigs coming through Utah, local punk rockers saw the potential to start the Salt Lake Pyrate Punx chapter. The SLC chapter formed, drawing from a wealth of experience and influences from other Pyrate Punx chapters around the globe, and has gained quite a reputation. … read more
Dark Passengers: Riding the Void with Holy Grail
Touring almost nonstop since the release of Ride the Void in January, Holy Grail are working hard to keep their name on the minds of metalheads nationwide. Even though the band is comparatively new to the national stage, they’re determined to keep people excited and to build on their success. “It’s great to see that hard work actually pays off,” says guitarist Eli Santana. … read more
Smang Lake City Vol. 2: Turquoise Jeep is Riding through
“Lemme smang it, girl, smash it and bang”: If you don’t automatically know where these lyrics come from, you were either born into an anti-technology polygamist family or have parents that solely bought their kids educational toys for Christmas. Turquoise Jeep rolled through to SLC at Kilby last May, and they’re coming back Nov. 17 to Kilby AND Urban. … read more
Tycho: Visual Articulation of Musical Ideas
The ability to create something—a painting, a song, a piece of clothing, jewelry, whatever it might be—to communicate an idea because it’s the only way that you know how to get it out of your head and into the world, is powerful. The way Tycho expresses his ideas and feelings resonates deeply with a wide audience, which is telling of his intuitive talent as a musician. … read more