SLUG Contributor Limelight
November 6, 2014
Contributor Limelight: Alex Springer
Alex Springer is a SLUG Mag all-star, plain and simple. He joined the SLUG team in May of 2012, and has since demonstrated his refined, global palate through writing food reviews—check out his list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving on pg. 40! Springer has a strong sense of the people behind our community’s food culture, and he loves meeting and interviewing interesting folks. Also catch his interview with Hala Saleh, developer of the NomNom Finder app on pg. 22. He also provides adroit book, video game and film reviews for the magazine—just the type of guy you want teaching English and journalism to ninth and 10th graders, which is his day job. What a rad teacher!
Articles by contributor
Fooling Around With Food @ The Leonardo
I spent my April Fools’ Day with a four-course meal of creatively conceived dishes at The Leonardo’s Fooling Around With Food event. — SLUG Mag … read more
Review: Two Hours Traffic – Foolish Blood
On this fourth album from Canada’s Two Hours Traffic, it’s safe to say they’ve taken their ability to create breezy and catchy pop-rock to the next level. … read more
Review: Sancho – What If
Sancho = The Ataris + Weezer … read more
Local Reviews: Richard Tyler Epperson – Falling Between the Stars
My first few listens to Epperson’s debut album were spent wrapping my head around the surprisingly textured arrangement of his songs. Considering he plays all of the instruments (minus percussion) himself, it’s a pretty impressive debut. In addition to a large repertoire of musical ability, Epperson doesn’t seem tied to just one genre. … read more
Local Review: VCR5 – Rainbow Selection
VCR5 = Souleye + Sun Araw … read more
Local Review: Gene Swift Band – Zinjanthropus Man
I don’t know whether this album by Lehi-native Gene Swift is a ballsy effort to recapture a long-forgotten sound, or a compilation of nostalgic Americana clichés. … read more
Review: Chico Trujillo – Reina de Todas las Fiestas
Chico Trujillo = Sonora Palacios + Banda Conmoción … read more
Review: Dungeons and Dragons – Tomb of Annihilation
When stacked up against Storm King’s Thunder, Tomb of Annihilation feels blessedly streamlined and adventure-focused. There are no politics to navigate, no sieges to weather—it’s just a deep dive into an unforgiving wilderness to destroy an artifact that can’t be destroyed. … read more
Indie Filmmakers Assemble: Joe and Anthony Russo Return to Slamdance
Before Joe and Anthony Russo became well-known directors by helming key episodes of Arrested Development and Community, and eventually taking the reins of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War, the brothers were like most indie filmmakers—passionate, starving and driven. … read more
Utah Book Review: Seekers of Fortune
As the first installment in his Saga of Aelorad series, Seekers of Fortune is brimming with enthusiasm and a deep love for Smith’s chosen genre. … read more
Dumpster Dive: Salt Lake Cinema Trash Night Keeps It Classick
For one year straight, Grossl has commandeered the first Wednesday of the month for Cinema Trash Night, his big-screen love letter to films that are so terrible that they’re actually brilliant. … read more
Dying in Vein: The Opiate Generation
After watching Dying in Vein, a documentary directed by local filmmaker Jenny Mackenzie, it doesn’t look like much has changed as far as anti-drug education in Utah. … read more
Film Review: Menashe
Upon watching Joshua Weinstein’s Sundance Film Festival selection Menashe, it was clear just how little I really knew about Hasidic Judaism. … read more
Birds of a Feather: Chef Viet Pham Talks Fine Dining...
Chef Viet Pham is arguably one of Salt Lake’s most influential chefs. His work with Bowman Brown within the confines of the dearly departed Downtown staple Forage earned both chefs a reputation boasting Best New Chef Award from Food & Wine Magazine in 2011 … read more
Power to the Pizza: Chef Michael Richey Brings Central Italy...
When Chef Michael Richey opened Fireside on Regent earlier this year, he made sure to bring the same attention to authenticity that he instilled in Picco. … read more
Ashikat Kitchen: CLC Craft Food
Middle Eastern pastries and desserts are of a different breed than the beloved sugar bombs that Western diners have come to enjoy—texture often takes precedent over sweetness. Hassan’s menu is based on bringing both worlds together to create something original. … read more
Argentina’s Best Empanadas: CLC Craft Food
Based off of a little bit of encouragement, Valdemoros founded Argentina’s Best Empanadas, a cozy little spot just off 200 East in downtown Salt Lake—which just so happens to be celebrating its first anniversary this year. … read more
Film Review: 13 Minutes (Elser)
As I’m sure is the case with many filmgoers, I had never heard the name Georg Elser before seeing Oliver Hirschbiegel’s 13 Minutes, which is really a shame. … read more
Damn These Heels 2017: The Queen of Ireland
The Queen of Ireland captures the meteoric rise of Panti Bliss (Rory O’Neill) as she became an unexpected leader in the LGBTQ community. … read more
Damn These Heels 2017: The Untamed
Amat Escalante’s The Untamed is a film that borders on obsessed when it comes to the sexual relationships of its characters. … read more
Damn These Heels 2017: Femme Brutal
Femme Brutal functions as both a venue for the performances of Club Burlesque Brutal and a stage for the performers to discuss their motivations for orchestrating these performances. … read more
Damn These Heels 2017: Pushing Dead
As a whole, Pushing Dead tells an important story. Cultural sensitivity for those who suffer from HIV and AIDS has taken a serious hit, and we can all relate to Don’s frustrating experience with the American healthcare system. … read more
Film Review: The Exception
David Leveaux’s The Exception eludes the predictable stigmas of a World War II film while telling a thought-provoking—and surprisingly sexy—story about loyalty, morality and the true meaning of patriotism. … read more
Movie Review: The Beguiled
It takes The Beguiled a while to reveal its darker aspect, but when it does, we’re treated to a morbidly comedic thriller. … read more
X Appeal: Table X is Fixing to be the Ryan...
This spirit of innovative cultivation permeates everything about Table X, from its blink-and-you’ll-miss-it menu changes to the rustic-chic exposed ceiling beams and geometrically painted walls. … read more
Movie Review: Maudie
Overall, fans of period-based biopics or fans of Maud Lewis herself will find plenty of reasons to enjoy Maudie. Sometimes it’s a special kind of refreshing to visit a new film that unfolds precisely the way you want it to. … read more
Movie Review: It Comes At Night
It Comes at Night is a solid, tightly wound thriller that can’t help but find itself in the same post-apocalyptic pool as The Walking Dead—the deep end of that pool, anyway. … read more
The Best Job in the World: Jace Burbidge & Bike...
Even though juvenile biking is suffering a decline, organizations like Bike Utah are ramping up to help local kids reconnect with the bicycles that might be buried in their garages. … read more
Movie Review: A Quiet Passion
For those whose appreciation of an artist is strengthened by learning about their humanity, go see A Quiet Passion this instant. … read more
Movie Review: Frantz
Instead of dragging audiences through the filthy hell of World War I’s brutal trenches, François Ozon’s latest film quietly leads them through the aftermath of that historical conflict. … read more
Movie Review: Your Name
I will always struggle with the notion of turning an animated film into a live action one, and Your Name only serves to galvanize those feelings. It’s a sweeping love story filled with unexpected twists, a humbling meditation on the power of fate in our lives and, perhaps most importantly, a stellar piece of visual art. … read more
Movie Review: The Discovery
While The Discovery is definitely cut from that same metaphysical cloth, it might have been a concept that was too big for a restrained filmmaker like McDowell to completely pin down. … read more
Sweet Lake: Brunch for People Who Hate Brunch
There are many things that make Sweet Lake ideal for a brunch outing, but the best thing about their menu is that it caters to all. I was excited to learn that owners Hasen Cone and Teri Rosquist have expanded their operation into a brick-and-mortar store and included biscuits on their menu. … read more
Movie Review: The Red Turtle
The Red Turtle is the latest outing from Japan’s geek-revered animation wonderland Studio Ghibli, and it will no doubt be something that fans of Ghibli’s other films will enjoy. Its truly gorgeous animation palette transports the viewer directly into the quiet nuances of the film’s story, and its dialogue-free narrative structure lets the audience drink freely from that deep well of visual beauty. … read more
Movie Review: The Comedian
In The Comedian, De Niro takes on the role of Jackie Burke, an aging comedian running from the sellout skeletons in his closet. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Killing Ground
Taking a cue from fellow Aussie survival flick Wolf Creek, Killing Ground capitalizes on the beautiful yet foreboding landscape of his film’s setting. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Brigsby Bear
For many career comedians, the transition from sketch comedy to motion pictures isn’t always successful. Usually we end up with a decent idea that is frantically held together by dick jokes, but that’s not the case with Brigsby Bear. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Bushwick
It doesn’t take long for Bushwick’s visceral action to kick in—after about five minutes of everyday routine, our characters are thrust into a deadly conflict that is raging across Brooklyn. … read more
Sundance Film Review: To the Bone
All filmmakers inevitably find themselves in the uncomfortable position of choosing whether to please audiences or choosing to please critics. After checking out To the Bone, it feels like Marti Noxon has fallen into the trap of trying to please both. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Bitch
Bitch is a film for anyone who has felt trapped by the societal pressures that somehow still manage to dehumanize us. Marianna Palka has a unique and refreshing voice, and it will be interesting to see what she comes up with next. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Hero
Brett Haley is one of the few filmmakers who appears genuinely interested in the lives of people over fifty. In this year’s The Hero, he takes another close look at faded glory and second chances. It’s a quiet film with well-placed spurts of humor and vulnerability, and it’s a continuing testament to the acting abilities of the legendary Sam Elliott.
Sundance Film Review: The Big Sick
The Big Sick is a story that deftly balances comedy and drama. It’s time to another funny and unexpectedly powerful film in the Apatow collection. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Colossal
Colossal strikes the near-perfect balance between the nostalgic geekdom of our childhoods and the tragic, everyday pitfalls of our adulthoods. … read more
Sundance Film Review: XX
Creating and distributing an anthology of short films is extremely difficult to pull off. XX fights that battle admirably—despite its pitfalls, it remains a solid vision of female-driven horror—but ultimately falls victim to the dangers of anthology filmmaking. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Little Hours
Jeff Baena’s debauched film The Little Hours makes us appreciate the fact that sex comedies have been funny for hundreds of years. … read more
Stepping Up: How the Utah Film Center Helps Turn Dreams...
In an effort to help films—like upcoming documentary STEP—with financial needs, the Utah Film Center pioneered the Fiscal Sponsorship Program. … read more
The Tower Theatre: Keeping it Indie Since 1928
The Tower Theatre opened in 1928, and for the first 30 years of its operation, it looked more like a medieval fortress than it did a movie theater. … read more
Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Storm King’s Thunder
While most D&D campaigns begin in a relatively neutral or safe location, Storm King’s Thunder thrusts its participants straight into the adventure, setting them in a recently sieged village that’s being torn apart by goblins. … read more
Life in Focus: Local Filmmaker Conor Provenzano talks Kubrick and...
Conor Provenzano has been hard at work on his documentary, Focused Life, which explores people’s philosophies about the fine art of concentration. Through small vignettes with strangers and friends alike, Provenzano uses his unique filmmaking style to delve into the different ways people maintain focus. … read more
Central 9th Market
I’m not typically one to get romantic about urban business developments, but after getting to know the people behind Central 9th’s newest addition, it’s hard to view the culmination of this project in any other way. Read more about this organization here! … read more
Deep Fried, Tried and True: A Culinary Tour of the...
Fair food is many things, but its chief characteristic is honesty. When you visit the fair, it’s expected that you try something that has no illusions about what it is. You’re encouraged to expand your horizons regarding the sheer scope of food that can be improved with a trip through the deep fryer. … read more
Farm Forward: Meat Doesn’t Have to Be Murder
As consumers, it’s nearly impossible for us to make sure that every product that we buy has been produced humanely. In the arena of factory farming, however, organizations like Farm Forward can help consumers make more informed decisions about where they’re getting their food. … read more
Provisions: For Every Food, There is a Season
In contrast to the seemingly endless road construction on 2300 East, the confines of Provisions are warm and inviting and the menu is eclectic yet familiar. … read more
Movie Review: Equity
Not only is Equity a film that hearkens back to smaller financial thrillers like Wall Street and Glengarry Glen Ross, but it subverts their bruising masculinity by casting all of the key players as ambitious women. … read more
Movie Review: Morris From America
I kicked myself for not checking out Morris from America at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Now that I have had the opportunity to see it, I understand why so many people were talking about it. It’s a poignant look at cultural differences, hip-hop and the relationship between fathers and sons.
… read more
Gallivan Avenue: Salt Lake’s (Recently Remodeled) Living Room
The Gallivan Center’s website proclaims the area as “Salt Lake’s living room.” The Main Street plaza has always been a focal point for Downtown visitors, and, with the help of a few local businesses and organizations, it’s about to get much more exciting. … read more
Movie Review: Carnage Park
Carnage Park demonstrates writer/director Mickey Keating’s knack for imagining uniquely terrifying scenarios and then inflicting them upon his characters. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: Set the Thames on Fire
In what may well be the most WTF-worthy film of the festival, Ben Charles Edwards’ Set the Thames on Fire is a beautifully dark fairy tale that calls to mind the films of Terry Gilliam and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Taking place in a dystopic shadow of London, which has been drowned by the slow rise of the River Thames, Set the Thames on Fire introduces itself as “an agony in three acts.” … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: Closet Monster
Like the title implies, Closet Monster is a film about the deep, dark fears that are born somewhere in our childhood. In the case of the film’s main character Oscar (Connor Jessup) however, these repressed anxieties are attached to his own homosexuality. It’s a well-illustrated look at the sexual confusion that many young people face, especially when negative stereotypes continue to perpetuate among those they care about. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Review: Southwest of Salem: The Story...
Southwest of Salem tells a shockingly similar tale of a trial that took place in San Antonio back in 1994. Both cases involved four lesbian women of color, and both cases clearly demonstrate how conservative mob mentality can hijack the criminal justice system.
Damn These Heels Film Review: AWOL
Star-crossed lovers in rural American towns is something that we’ve seen before, but Shoval’s portrayal of a potential army recruit named Joey and her illicit romance with local housewife Rayna manages to breathe new, melancholy life into the genre. … read more
2016 Damn These Heels Film Reviews
Featuring films like Desde Allá (Lorenzo Vigas), Southwest of Salem (Deborah Esquenazi) and more, the Utah Film Center’s 13th annual Damn These Heels Film Festival continues to celebrate LGBTQ films, filmmakers and narratives. … read more
Dinner at Yours: The Best Table in Town is Your...
Dinner at Yours offers a rotating menu based on what ingredients are in season. Their food is locally sourced as much as possible, and they offer meals to accommodate any dietary restrictions that customers might have. … read more
Eat Drink SLC: Celebrating Utah’s Culinary Coming of Age
Founded by executive members from SB Dance, Tracy Aviary and Vine Lore, Eat Drink SLC strives to create an evening that fosters a true appreciation of the culinary arts by featuring chefs from local restaurants and pairing their creations with wine and spirits from all over the world. … read more
Movie Reviews: Yoga Hosers
Those familiar with Tusk know that it’s the first in Smith’s True North trilogy, and Yoga Hosers is more of a traditional sequel than are other films in Smith canon. … read more
Movie Review: Captain Fantastic
Captain Fantastic shows how different families struggle, but doesn’t claim to have the answer. … read more
Dominic Rodriguez: The Persona Behind Fursonas
Earlier this year, an eccentric little documentary called Fursonas premiered at Salt Lake’s Slamdance Film Festival. The film is less a story about trying to explain a fandom that is obsessed with anthropomorphic animal costumes, and more a story about people looking for and finding acceptance. … read more
Hope is a Well-Oiled Bike Chain: The Utah Bicycle Collective...
For those interested in helping to keep this program afloat, both the Bicycle Collective and the Utah Department of Juvenile Justice (who implement the day-to-day activities of Youth in Custody) offer volunteer opportunities. Also, keep the Bicycle Collective in mind if you’re looking to buy a bike or donate an old one. … read more
Bistro 222: Cuisine for the Business Casual
Over the past few months, downtown Salt Lake’s Bistro 222 has undergone some major changes. Most notably would be the hiring of new Executive Chef Brady Gray, formerly of Ruth’s Chris and Baci Trattoria. Gray’s past work experience in contemporary American and Italian cuisine fits nicely within the metropolitan environs of the 222 Main Building. … read more
Review: XCOM 2
Until I played 2012’s XCOM: Enemy Unknown, concepts like probabilities, percentages and risk management were never terms that got my motor running. Now that Firaxis and 2K have released a sequel to their turn-based strategy game, I’m starting to see my everyday life in these terms. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Yoga Hosers
My introduction to Kevin Smith began early in my life. My older brother rented Clerks and threw it into our VCR (yep. That long ago) without really considering the fact that his eighth-grade kid brother was in the same room. The Mallrats soundtrack was the first CD that I ever bought with my own money, and Weezer’s “Suzanne” still manages to fill me with high school nostalgia. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Captain Fantastic
Regardless of a filmmaker’s talent, making a meaningful drama about a quirky family is like navigating a minefield. Celluloid families are typically plagued with some degree of syrupy sweetness or sappy tragedy, but Matt Ross’s Captain Fantastic captures the emotional core of what makes all families tick and his stellar cast promptly follows suit. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Certain Women
Typically, shooting a film against the big sky country of Montana evokes images of tough guys doing tough things. While the tough things are still present, Kelly Reichardt’s introspective film focuses on the women who ultimately pick up the pieces after the tough guys break themselves apart. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Under the Shadow
When Gullermo Del Toro used Pan’s Labyrinth as an allegorical scalpel to dissect the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, he opened a door to possibilities that few filmmakers have had the talent and imagination to explore. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Carnage Park
Writer/director Mickey Keating has tried his hand at many different horror subgenres, including sci-fi body horror with Pod and slow descents into madness with Darling. Carnage Park demonstrates his knack for imagining uniquely terrifying scenarios and then inflicting them upon his characters. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Antibirth
A film like Antibirth is the reason that I’m willing to take a gamble on Sundance’s Midnight section. It strikes a rare balance in that it portrays a visually arresting and bizarre story while bringing relevant subtext and spot-on character acting along for the ride. … read more
Sundance Film Review: 31
There was something oddly comforting about my experience with Rob Zombie’s psychobilly horror film. After so many of my film choices this year took me into territory that I wasn’t necessarily prepared for, 31 was exactly what I was hoping it would be—a heavily stylized jaunt into Rob Zombie’s carnival of carnage. … read more
Review: BRAWL
BRAWL Bloober Team Reviewed on: PS4 (exclusive) Street: 04.24 When Bloober Team released their Bomberman-style party game, Basement Crawl, on PS4 in early 2014, it was met with outright hostility. A little more than a year later, the Polish game developers have released BRAWL, which is the same concept with more bells and whistles. While
Sundance Film Review: Trash Fire
The horror/comedy is a tricky genre to blend. While it seems like the two fit hand in hand, very few directors have been able to actually make it work. The problem with Trash Fire is that director and screenwriter Richard Bates, Jr. tried to make a horror/comedy that was also a family drama, a treatise on mental illness and a critique of religious conservatism. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Greasy Strangler
Amid tableaus that fixate on cartoonish gore, ungainly sex, feral pubic hair and lurid sausage consumption, The Greasy Strangler does tell a story—I think. … read more
Sundance Film Review: NUTS!
NUTS! tells the story of Dr. Brinkley and his bizarrely successful attempt to build an empire on a foundation of trans-species testicular transplants. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Mapplethorpe: Look At the Pictures
Whether you’re an avid follower of Robert Mapplethorpe’s career or just now hearing about him, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures offers a comprehensive look at his controversial oeuvre. … read more
Review: Crypt of the NecroDancer
When Crypt of the NecroDancer was in early access, it was one of the most clever and addictive games that I had ever played. … read more
Review: Rebel Galaxy
Rebel Galaxy
Double Damage Games
Reviewed on: PC
Also on: PS4, Xbox One, Mac
Street: 05.18
Every time I’ve played a game that puts me in charge of a spaceship, I’ve inevitably been disappointed. There’s always something that precludes an experience that should essentially be a simulated version of Joss Whedon’s Firefly. … read more
Review: The Weaponographist
It’s clear that The Weaponographist is hoping to insert itself as a new entry in the rapidly diversifying roguelike genre. … read more
Review: Jupiter Ascending
Oh, the hot mess that is Jupiter Ascending. It’s one of those rare films that manages to be totally endearing despite the fact that it’s totally flawed—think of it as the cinematic heir to Flash Gordon. … read more
Director Ira Sachs Explores the Nature of Friendship in Little...
With a majority of his films having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, director and screenwriter Ira Sachs has become a fixture at Park City’s annual celebration of independent film. Boasting an impressive body of cinematic work that explores the nuances of familial boundaries, sexual identity and the complicated nature of love itself, Ira has established himself as a keen observer of human relationships. … read more
Review: Blackhole
Whenever I start getting a big head about how good I am at video games, a simple 2D platformer like Blackhole will come out and completely humiliate me. … read more
Review: Dirty Bomb
Given the fact that the game is in its beta phase, it would be easy for it to be derivative and buggy. Surprisingly, this is not the case with Dirty Bomb. … read more
Review: Farming Simulator 15
When you load up a game called Farming Simulator, there’s no splitting hairs about what kind of game you’re in for—not that it’s a bad thing. … read more
Review: Kholat
I’m pissed at myself that I didn’t already know the story from which Kholat takes its inspiration. … read more
Review: Windward
Conceptually, the idea of an MMO that involves taking control of a seafaring vessel and setting sail for fortune and glory is a great idea. To its credit, Windward has established a solid foundation for such a potentially cool idea. … read more
Review: Run All Night
Liam Neeson and director Jaume Collet-Serra have officially cornered the market on lukewarm action films about grizzled gunmen and their quests for redemption. Run All Night is the third collaboration between the two, and while the Blu-ray featurettes reveal a professional relationship akin to that of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, one must question their cinematic motivations. … read more
Review: Card Hunter
It’s hard not to cringe when the words “free-to-play” pop up on a game’s description, but Card Hunter is one of the few free-to-play games that don’t make me want to punch it in the face. … read more
Review: Last Horizon
Last Horizon’s introspective gameplay and perfectly composed ambient soundtrack make this a great little game that works well in bite-sized play sessions as well as extended periods of space exploration. … read more
Review: Hard West
Doom and gloom are omnipresent in Hard West. Every decision has a dark side, and every risk costs a bit of the player’s soul. … read more
Review: Knight Squad
Knight Squad’s most attractive feature is the sheer amount of gameplay modes available to players. They’ve got your basics covered—deathmatch and capture the flag are available as team or free-for-all game modes—but it also throws a lot of interesting challenges into the mix. … read more
Soho Food Park: Get the Truck Over Here
Part of a food truck’s appeal is hopping on Twitter to see where and when your favorite mobile food purveyors are going to be doing business, and then undergoing an epic pilgrimage to show your support. Now that Utah is entering a new level of food truck street cred, it’s time to start accommodating Utah’s wheeled meal-dealers. … read more
Review: System Shock: Enhanced Edition
For the uninitiated, System Shock and System Shock 2 deserve some credit for merging the FPS and RPG genres back in the ‘90s. … read more
High West Distillery & Saloon: Keeping Park City in Good...
Few Park City locales manage to marry the city’s frontier roots with its current cosmopolitan landscape as effectively as High West Distillery and Saloon. … read more
Review: Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition
Combat in Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition is fast and frenetic, and Death comes equipped with a whole book full of combos and special abilities … read more
Bloodsucking Bastards: Brian James O’Connell On Comedy And Terror
Now that Bloodsucking Bastards is available to own, O’Connell and Dr. God are working with a few future projects that sound promising. … read more
Nintendo Airstream Tour 2015
Nintendo’s Airstream tour was the harbinger of the holidays for me this year—the Airstream was beautifully decorated with wrapping paper that I wish I could steal, and the Christmas spirit was in the air. … read more
Terminator Genisys: Time Is Not On My Side
As far as sci-fi action movies go, The Terminator is a milestone. … read more
Review: Euclidean
Euclidean Alpha Wave Entertainment / AAD Productions Reviewed on: PC (exclusive) Street: 09.25 Don’t get me wrong—I love the fact that Euclidean is a VR-enabled exploration of Lovecraftian insanity-horror. It looks beautiful, the narration is batshit crazy, and it excels at impressing a feeling of claustrophobic dread upon the player. As a piece of immersive
Provo Film Society: New York Doll 10th Anniversary Party
Organized earlier this year, the Provo Film Society is dedicated to preserving an appreciation of independent film in Utah County. … read more
Review: Warhammer 40k: Deathwatch: Tyranid Invasion
Deathwatch has invested the most effort into really exploring the tabletop roots of Warhammer 40K. … read more
11th Annual Feast of Five Senses @ Westminster College
The 11th Annual Feast of Five Senses was a spectacular evening of unparalleled food and community. … read more
Review: Batkid Begins
For those who may have been living under a rock in 2013, the Make-A-Wish Foundation teamed up with the city of San Francisco to grant the wish of then five-year-old Miles Scott who had spent most of his childhood battling leukemia. … read more
Celebrate the Bounty 2015: Local Food is Happy Food
It wasn’t until I checked out Celebrate the Bounty on that dusky October evening that I began to see the true beauty and vitality of our restaurant culture. … read more
Review: BEDLAM
Playing trek after trek into the harsh wastes of Bedlam, it’s easy to draw the comparison to the classic DOS game Oregon Trail. … read more
Review: Roccat – Nyth
The addition of the Roccat Nyth to my PC gaming arsenal has allowed me to focus my attention into a one-handed beam of battle energy. … read more
Battle For Zendikar: How to Harness Cosmic Evil for Fun...
Ravnica will always be my MTG happy place, but after taking Battle For Zendikar for a test drive, I heartily welcome the arrival of our Eldrazi overlords. … read more
Blood and Bats: Two Impromptu Panels You May Have Missed...
Of the panels that I checked out on the second day of Salt Lake’s annual nerd fest, two of them blew me away with unexpected awesomeness. … read more
How To Win a Free DVD at Salt Lake Comic...
How To Win a Free DVD at Salt Lake Comic Con A con is only as good as its free swag. I’ve typically gotten skunked by Salt Lake Comic Con in this department, but this year, I discovered that it’s still possible to take home a geeky memento without digging into the budget that you’ve
Review: Act of Aggression
While the lack of RTS representation has left a gap in my gaming identity, it’s one that has been lovingly addressed by Act of Aggression … read more
Review: Galak-Z
Galak-Z is a perfect combination of the cultural weirdness that basically nurtured me and anyone else who grew up in the 1980’s. The beauty of this game is that it manages to capture all of that nostalgia without being derivative. … read more
Review: Endless Legend: Shadows
Integrating a new faction into a game as complex as Endless Legend could have been a tricky prospect, but the Forgotten’s play style works well with the existing factions. … read more
Review: Destiny: The Taken King
The arrival of The Taken King is much more than an expansion to Destiny—it’s a reinvention. It’s the manifestation of player feedback, passionate development and community gaming that began with Destiny’s release a year ago. … read more
Review: The Vampire Diaries: Season Six
The Vampire Diaries was created by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, two showrunners that were savvy enough to hook the young ‘uns by wisely capitalizing on the Twilight craze. … read more
Review: Good Kill
Good Kill explores similar territory to that of American Sniper. We see characters grappling with the ethics of war along with the psychological toll that it takes on our soldiers. … read more
Review: Warhammer 40,000: Regicide
A Warhammer 40K game wouldn’t be complete without a bit of customization, and Regicide gives players the ability to change colors and armor embellishments. … read more
Review: Supernatural: Season 10
Even though paranormal drama is well represented in today’s TV land, Supernatural’s cocktail of humor and horror seems to have picked up where its predecessors left off. … read more
Review: Colonies Online
Colonies Online Iron Bit Reviewed on: PC (exclusive) Street: 05.01.14 Conceptually, Colonies Online has the potential to become an extremely addictive MMO. Players take control of a single colonist who is tasked with setting up outposts on various planets. Other players can interact with these outposts—or raze them to the ground if they are
Review: Scarface & Taxi Driver ReAction Figures
Who among us has not stood in front of their bathroom mirror and performed Travis Bickle’s (Robert DeNiro) “You talkin’ to me?” soliloquy? … read more
Review: Blues and Bullets: Episode 1
Blues and Bullets: Episode 1 A Crowd of Monsters Reviewed on: PC (exclusive) Street: 07.23 As Blues and Bullets is essentially an interactive pulp novel, it’s easy to compare it to any of the titles in Telltale’s arsenal. However, the game is so well executed that the comparison is only skin deep. Throughout a heavily
Eat Local Week: Put Some Utah In Your Mouth
Rising from an epic union among several of Utah’s most influential food and educational organizations, Eat Local Week promises to impress the most hardcore of picklers to the most timid of shoppers. Taking place from Sept. 12 to 19 at various venues across Salt Lake City, Eat Local Week is dedicated to showcasing our local
Review: The Flock
Now here’s an interesting question: What if every single death that you accrued in a game brought you one step closer to said game’s inevitable termination? It’s a risky move, but such is the case with The Flock, Vogelsap’s atmospheric first-person action title. … read more
Wasatch Art Soiree 2015
Comfortably nestled within the Wasatch Mountains, the organization known as Alta Community Enrichment (ACE) has been dedicated to providing their community with exposure to the arts. ACE is known for using ski resorts such as Alta and Snowbird as venues for over 70 annual events, and have awarded several grants to local people and organizations
Review: Nobunagun – The Complete Series
Drawing upon my experience with anime, it doesn’t seem like Nobunagun has done much to revolutionize the genre. … read more
Review: DiscStorm
As far as retro, four-player deathmatch arena games go, DiscStorm only does a few things right. What it does get right, however, it gets really right. … read more
Review: Leap of Fate
The cyberpunk techno-fantasy genre of games like Shadowrun and films like The Matrix is a niche category for sure, but the idea of combining sci-fi and fantasy has always held unlimited storytelling potential, especially in the field of video games. … read more
Review: Strike Back: The Complete Third Season
Strike Back is at its strongest when it revels in the fact that it’s a cocksure action flick that liberally combines body count with boobies. … read more
Mama Africa: Food Speaks All Languages
It’s just past 11 a.m., and the sun’s already starting to beat down on the crowd that has converged in Tooele City Park for the city’s annual arts festival. It’s a humble gathering of local artists and craftspeople, but the excitement for one of the city’s favorite traditions has already started to crackle and
StartFEST: Clint Betts
Sometime during the past decade, the volatile goo inside of Utah’s economical petri dish broke out of its sterile confines and is now terrorizing the populace with its flash memory production and cloud-based business solutions. A mad scientist’s concoction of innovation, determination and local talent, Utah’s startup community is on its way to becoming a
Review: Batman: Arkham Knight
While it’s important to recognize the deluge of glitches and framerate problems that have plagued the PC version of Arkham Knight—as I’m writing this, sales of the game are still suspended on Steam—the PS4 version runs like a dream. … read more
Damn These Heels Film Festival 2015
The 2015 Damn These Heels Film Festival played at the Utah Film Center from July 10 – 12, featuring independent films that meditate on queerness, love and society. … read more
Ben Gleib: Idiotests and Mind Games
From regular appearances on Chelsea Lately to voice acting gigs on Ice Age: Continental Drift and The Book of Life, comedian Ben Gleib has kicked all kinds of ass. Currently, Gleib is the host of GSN’s Idiotest, which affords him plenty of opportunities to poke fun at people who are not as smart as they
The Cave Singers, Dave Wilson @ Kilby 04.21
“You guys are badass!” Shouted one over-excited spectator as The Cave Singers took the stage. Lead vocalist Pete Quirk was quick to respond, “We are badass! We steal, and we loiter, but we’re a good catch, nonetheless!” Guitarist Derek Fudesco and drummer Marty Lund chuckled and hooted in agreement as they took their posts—Fudesco on a ripped up barstool, and Lund behind his percussion set, which included a pair of bongos. … read more
Jack Diamond: The Man Behind the Shorts
Why is it so hard for Utah filmmakers and actors to catch a break? Local producer/actor Jack Diamond had this same question. Along with Chase Weston, Diamond created the Who Likes Short Shorts? Film Festival in 2010. … read more
Who Likes Short Shorts?! Film Fest Reviews
The Pride Festival wasn’t the only place to peep some decent short shorts this weekend. Just up the hill at the Post Theatre, the Who Likes Short Shorts? Film Festival brought its own blend of community, artistry and passion to the Wasatch Front. … read more
Dave Borba: Dogs, Devils and Da Vinci @ Utah Arts...
From the minute that I set foot inside Utah artist Dave Borba’s booth at this year’s Arts Festival, I was transported into a vaudevillian carnival populated by terriers wearing cowboy hats, devils dressed like 1950’s hoodlums, and a flock of hearts that have sprouted wings. … read more
Natalie Wall & Kellie Murphy: Viva Revoluccia! @ Utah Arts...
Natalie Wall and Kellie Murphy of Revoluccia are around to provide handcrafted leather bags and accessories that will be sure to show your artistic side while leaving your reputation intact. SLUG had a chance to talk to these two talented ladies about life, leather and staying inspired despite all the haters out there. … read more
Fred Conlon: Garden Art That Doesn’t Suck @ Utah Arts...
I’m staring at a seven-foot tall skeleton with four arms. Fred Conlon, the mad scientist behind this towering creation has a gift for turning discarded tools, military helmets and scrap metal into garden art for those who are tired of plastic gnomes and pink flamingos. … read more
The Utah Arts Festival: Tolstoy Would Approve
According to Russian author and beard enthusiast Leo Tolstoy, art “is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and of humanity.” … read more
Fitz and the Tantrums @ The Depot 07.03
After spending a night with Fitz and the Tantrums, I realized that when artists take a quintessentially American music staple like soul and douse it in Los Angeles swagger, I get all gushy about living in a country that makes this brand of awesome possible. … read more
Erika Wennerstrom: A Glorious Bastard
Aside from having one of the best band names in the business, The Heartless Bastards are fronted by Erika Wennerstrom, a singer/songwriter who digs into deeply emotional territory and belts it out with a wail that’s somewhere between Janis Joplin and Marianne Faithfull. … read more
Heartless Bastards, Little Hurricane @ Urban 08.10
Despite a few technical difficulties before they started, the Bastards played with an unwavering intensity. They came to perform. … read more
Celebrate The Bounty @ Rico Warehouse 10.11
Local First Utah has always been a staunch supporter of the gastronomical rock stars that choose to make Utah their home, and they showed the love last week at their sixth annual fundraiser, aptly named Celebrate the Bounty. … read more
Yelp! Soda Tasting @ Co2 Cafe
When I learned that Yelp! had teamed up with the local Co2 Café for a soda tasting, I high-fived my inner glutton and we both had an enjoyable evening. … read more
Nata Gallery Grand Opening 12.07
The concept of a “pop-up dinner” has provided both chefs and diners with a unique opportunity to socialize, network and enjoy food that varies wildly from one event to the next. Since April, Salt Lake City has been host to several of these pop-up dinners, thanks to an organization called SLC POP, which has been under the dutiful watch of chefs Katie Weinner and Mike Burtis. … read more
Guerilla Dining @ Nata Gallery 12.15
When you sit down for a meal at Nata Gallery, it’s like throwing down a gauntlet and daring chefs Katie Weinner and Mike Burtis to keep your ass in the seat long enough to try each and every offering that they’ve created on a given evening. … read more
Salt Lake Magazine’s 2013 Dining Awards Gala 02.19
Since 1996, the Salt Lake Magazine has been celebrating Utah’s culinary best and brightest with a gala awards ceremony that allows local chefs and restaurateurs the chance to celebrate their accomplishments and maintain bragging rights over their competitors. … read more
Evil Dead: The Musical: Director Chance Newman Talks Blood and...
This spring, Last Chance Productions will be bringing Evil Dead: The Musical to the Grand Theatre. Director/producer Chance Newman was groovy enough to sit down with SLUG to discuss the unique challenges that come with crafting a musical that features seven different kinds of blood. … read more
The Cave Singers @ Urban Lounge with Pollens
The last time I saw The Cave Singers was at Kilby Court, where they played a show that was both intimate and badass. It’s good to see that they’re moving into larger venues. … read more
Ivan & Alyosha with Fort Atlantic, L’anarchiste @ Kilby Court...
Interestingly enough, Ivan & Alyosha got their name from a Dostoevsky novel, which initially made me think they were all about bleak introspection on the darkness of the human soul. On the contrary, they’re very skilled at cranking out catchy melodies with sincere vocals—not stuff I usually associate with Dostoevsky. … read more
Dishcrawl Park City 04.17
Utah’s inaugural Dishcrawl was spearheaded by Park City local Rebecca Noel, who recognized the Beehive State’s growing food culture. Attendees were treated to four restaurants in the city’s historic Main Street district: Chimayo, High West Distillery & Saloon, The Mustang and Zoom. … read more
Bitters and Bites @ The Leonardo 05.05
The Leonardo is known for exhibiting a wide variety of creative and innovative treasures—but the staff gets really pissed if you try to eat any of them. SLC Bites is known for organizing dining events for the citizens of Salt Lake City—but they get really pissed when you throw their food all over the walls and call it “art.” Last Sunday, May 5, a happy medium has been forged as SLC Bites teamed up with The Leonardo to bring Salt Lake “Bitters and Bites,” a culinary event in which local chefs and mixologists bring their A-game products to a crowd of hungry Utah foodies. … read more
Domino Mexican Independent Film Tour 05.21-05.22
The two-day Domino Mexican Independent Film Tour festival exhibited both short– and feature-length films that showcased a snapshot of the unique perspective that Mexican film has to offer. … read more
KUER’s Savory Salt Lake @ The Leonardo 06.14
For their second annual Savory Salt Lake event, the folks at KUER assembled a pantheon of talented chefs and mixologists for a celebration of local food, drink and radio. … read more
E3 2013: Console Wars and the Rise of the Indie...
SLUG Magazine’s E3 2013 coverage: From the Microsoft/Sony console war, to our favorite upcoming releases and indie game lookouts. … read more
Utah Arts Festival 2013: The Illustrated Woman
This year, I had the pleasure of chatting with local ladies about their secret origin stories, the Utah art scene and staying inspired when the well of creativity seems to dry up. … read more
The Rose Exposed Variety Show @ Rose Wagner 08.30
The Rose Exposed is a kickoff party of sorts, designed to celebrate the upcoming seasons of six very local and very talented groups of performing artists. With performances ranging from modern dance to miniature piano concertos, The Rose Exposed offered a little something for everyone. … read more
The Nintendo Bus: Straight Outta Hyrule
Every fall for close to 20 years, The Nintendo Bus has left the comforts of its HQ in Redmond, Wash. to promote their list of holiday titles. This year, Salt Lake had the pleasure of being the first stop on the bus’s cross-country tour. … read more
TEDxCity2.0: After Glow @ Salt Lake Hardware 09.21
The atrium of the Salt Lake Hardware Building is one of the most aesthetically pleasing environments in the city—perfect for hosting an event like After Glow. Moving among exposed brick walls and towering support beams, guests were treated to a plethora of stations that featured everything from local art to information about nonprofit organizations that are trying to make our state a better place. … read more
Utah Arts Festival: Fear No Film 2015 – Fears, Passions...
Over the past thirteen years, the Fear No Film program has become a serious opportunity for independent filmmakers to showcase their work. This year, each set of films thematically explores the different impulses that exist within us all, making this set of films especially resonant. … read more
Celebrate The Bounty 2013 @ Union Pacific Depot 10.10
After enduring a crash diet during the summer, I’ve made a solid effort to keep my girth at a reasonable level. After spending an evening at Celebrate the Bounty, Local First’s annual food-centric fundraiser, I found that my poundage had veered dangerously into the red. The delicious, delicious red. … read more
Salty Horror International Film Festival 2013
The Salty Horror International Film Festival was conceived by Mario DeAngelis four years ago as an avenue for local and international horror filmmakers to bring their dark and deranged ideas to cinematic life. … read more
Salt Lake Comic Con: George Takei @ The Leonardo 01.17
With two big events on the horizon—the Fan Xperience in April and the second annual Salt Lake Comic Con in September—Farr and Brandenburg also managed to capture the attention of George Takei, Star Trek alum, meme enthusiast and outspoken advocate for equality. Together, they created a comic con pre-event in which fans could meet their favorite USS Enterprise helmsman. … read more
The Elder Scrolls Online: How the Fantasy Game Keeps it...
The game opens in Coldharbour, which is a nasty-looking place somewhere within the hellish dimension of Oblivion. Right off the bat, I was glad to see that the control scheme felt exactly like that of Skyrim, so it was easy to pick up and play. After being visited by an apparition who called himself The Prophet, I set off on a prologue quest to bust him out of Coldharbour and get back to the real world. … read more
FanX 2014: Day One—The Calm Before the Storm
As FanX opened its doors to the many-headed beast of Utah’s geek culture for day one of the three-day event, there was a subdued feeling in the air—not unlike the kind that settles in just before a storm rips through town, leaving nothing but smears of grease paint and empty Mountain Dew cans in its wake. … read more
FanX 2014: Day Two–A Little Bit Louder Now
As I watched the crowd billow and swell throughout the avenues and boulevards of the FanX exhibition hall on day two, I wasn’t thinking about how many of them had driven from out of state to behold our fair convention. I wasn’t thinking about how wonderful it is to see so many geeks converge and let their freak flags fly. Instead, I couldn’t shake the thought that if just one of these people was bitten by a zombie, we would all be righteously screwed. … read more
FanX 2014: Day Three–Gaining Closure
The third and final day of FanX brought with it a sense of bittersweet excitement. Fans knew that today was the day that the convention was planning on bringing out the big guns, but they also knew that after the doors of the Salt Palace closed for the evening, they would have to make the long, somber journey back to the real world—at least until September’s convention rolls around, that is. … read more
FanX 2014: Chris Hoffman talks Salt City Strangers
Unbeknownst to many comic book fans, the city of Salt Lake has its own band of superheroes who strive to defend our unique, Utahan way of life. Created by Chris Hoffman, Josh Butterfield and Jeremy Gates, the Salt City Strangers is a comic book series that chronicles the adventures of Utah’s own super-powered team of do-gooders. … read more
FanX 2014: Nilbog is Goblin Spelled Backwards — Darren Ewing,...
In 1990, a ragtag Italian production team came to Utah to make a horror movie about a family that gets in over its head when their wholesome vacation plans get ruined by a pack of vegetarian goblins. The result was one of the most fantastic celluloid train wrecks in cinematic history. Despite the fact that Troll 2 has one of the lowest ratings on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, it continues to unite movie fans all over the world with its unique brand of awesome awfulness. … read more
Tastemakers @ Gallivan Avenue 05.29-30
Every year, Salt Lake Magazine kicks off the summer with Tastemakers, a two-night event dedicated to showcasing some of Utah’s finest eateries. With over twenty local restaurants participating, it’s tough to fit so much eating into two nights—but I managed to make it work. … read more
E3 2014: Take-Two Interactive
Last year, E3 attendees got a peek at what next-gen games were going to look like. This year, we’ve gotten a peek at what next-gen games can actually do. With many developers cranking out content that can be played on both iterations of the Sony Playstation, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo Wii, there’s an obvious limit to what they can accomplish. … read more
E3 2014: The Ones That Stuck
One of the best indicators that a game is going to be worth a damn in the coming year is whether or not it makes an impression. After playing video games for eight hours at a time, the games that feel too generic just don’t linger in the subconscious. … read more
E3 2014: Looking Forward
During my stops throughout the convention, it was interesting to see which gaming trends were on their way out, which ones were being salvaged for their next-gen potential, and which ones will shape the way we play games in the near future. As a final sendoff for E3 2014, here are some things to look forward to this year. … read more
Salt Lake WingFEST @ Jordan Park 06.14
WingFEST has made some impressive strides since its inception in 2011, and based on this year’s attendance, it’s only going to keep growing. Giving locals the opportunity to meet up and enjoy a generous quantity of the quintessentially American dish on a Saturday afternoon is a great way to kick off the summer. … read more
EMA opens the Satellites for SLC: An Interview with Erika...
Despite the themes of disassociation and anxiety that she explores on her recent album The Future’s Void, Erika M. Anderson—otherwise known as EMA—is looking forward to connecting with her fans in Salt Lake. Before kicking off her tour, Anderson took some time during a rainy Portland afternoon to chat with us about virtual reality, H.P. Lovecraft, and the all-seeing eye of social media. … read more
EMA @ Kilby Court 06.24 with Strong Words, Secret Abilities
Despite the fact that Anderson was friendly and approachable while running their post-show merch booth, her stage presence is fantastic—and kind of terrifying. Through her live performance, she was able to capture the versatility of her music, resulting in an emotional punch to the gut that was both sincere and thought-provoking. … read more
Fear No Film: Utah Short Film of the Year, Part...
In addition to their respective categories, the festival has also assembled a list of nominees for Utah’s Short Film of the Year. Each of these films was made locally, and represents the wide body of cinematic talent that can be found here in the Beehive State. … read more
Fear No Film: Your Boundaries
One of the most fun parts of having films grouped into different thematic categories is trying to find the common thread that unites a group of seemingly disparate films. According to the Fear No Film Guide, the films in this category are designed to explore “ways of seeing your limits, who you think you once were, who you are now, and what might lay ahead.” Though the following films were vastly different in tone and content, each of them offered their own personal challenge to rethink the world as we might see it. … read more
Fear No Film: Global Boundaries
The selections for this year’s Fear No Film festival have been eye-opening, to say the least. It’s nice to know that we still live in a world where boundaries are constantly being challenged and redefined, and even nicer to know that we have a local presence who believes it’s important to share these messages with our community. … read more
Fear No Film: Relationship Boundaries
Relationships are defined by their boundaries. When two people become romantically involved, there are boundaries that must be maintained for that relationship to thrive. When the boundaries between parents, children, brothers and sisters are threatened, the core of a person’s identity is at risk. … read more
Fear No Film: Artistic Boundaries
The purpose of this Fear No Film category was to showcase ways in which filmmakers are pushing the limits of their craft. This type of filmmaking can be a mixed bag depending on the observer as it forces the viewer to look below the surface of what’s happening on the screen and begin to focus on the “why” rather than the “what.” … read more
San Diego Comic Con 2014
Despite the fact that SDCC can be messy and often extremely frustrating, I still love it. At the end of that long weekend in July, it’s comforting to see so many people coming out to celebrate the enduring work of so many talented artists. Now that it’s officially behind us, all of us local nerds are counting the days until SLCC is upon us so we can meet up and swap our own convention center war stories—and maybe pick up some cool swag along the way. … read more
Fear No Film: And the Winner Is…
Over the weekend, audiences and jury members screened a wide variety of films from all over the world. As this year’s Fear No Film theme was all about exploring and redefining our own boundaries, each film presented a unique perspective on that concept. … read more
FantasyCon 2014: FilmQuest @ The Gateway Megaplex 06.30 – 07.02
As an attendee of several locally organized film festivals, FilmQuest’s focus on films from the horror, fantasy and science fiction genres made it unique. It’s fun to sit in a darkened theatre with no idea what type of film might illuminate the darkened screen and take you along for a ride. Not all of the films were stellar, and many were downright bizarre, but here are a few that stuck out to me. … read more
Wicked @ Capitol Theatre 07.09-08.24
Now that Wicked is back in Salt Lake, and Capitol Theatre is hosting the second in what looks to be a long line of sold-out shows, it’s clear that Utahns still have a hankering to defy some gravity. … read more
Salt Lake Comic Con 2014: Bruce Campbell
Even at 56 years old, Bruce Campbell still has one of the best chins in the business. … read more
Salt Lake Comic Con 2014: Stephen Amell and John Barrowman
Having since joined the Arrow bandwagon—better late than never, friends—I was considerably pumped to see that the show’s hero and villain would be making a back to back panel appearance. … read more
Salt Lake Comic Con 2014: Film Festival
For folks who wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Comic Con and sit in the dark for eight to ten hours, the Salt Lake Comic Con Film Festival was up and running at the Gateway Megaplex all three days of the convention. … read more
Salt Lake Comic Con 2014: Battlefield Live
Jeanie Burdie and her family take the looming threat of a zombie apocalypse seriously. So seriously, in fact, that they founded Battlefield Live, a mobile laser tag arena dedicated to helping civilians deal with the living dead. … read more
Pop-up Persian Restaurant @ Meditrina 09.21
Regardless of my lack of experience with Persian culture, the events of this Sunday evening transported me to a place I had never been before. This unexpected journey was the brainchild of Shahrzad Jalili and Hossein Dadkha, who are seeking to recapture one of old Iran’s most popular social scenes—the neighborhood café. … read more
Celebrate the Bounty 2014
Not only is Celebrate the Bounty one of the best places to see the rock stars of Utah’s culinary scene work their magic, it’s also a heartfelt tribute to our state’s ability to produce and distribute amazing local ingredients. This evening, the Union Pacific Station was outfitted with representatives from some of the best restaurants in town—an apt setting, considering the gastronomical tour that was in store for the attendees. … read more
Nintendo Airstream Tour 2014
Once a year, right before the rush of the holiday shopping season, the folks at Nintendo load up a trailer with all of their upcoming titles and take it across the country to spread buzz for their future lineup. Salt Lake City had the good fortune of being the Airstream Tour’s first stop, which allowed local Nintendo fans first crack at games that won’t see store shelves until this Christmas. … read more
Charles Halford: Local Boy Turned Demon Hunter
Charles Halford, an actor who grew up in Salt Lake City, has been cast as the role of Chas Chandler, Constantine’s cab driver/drinking buddy/demon hunter. Halford, whose TV work includes HBO’s True Detective and ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., took some time to chat with us about NBC’s new show Constantine, as well as the simple pleasures of taking a punch in the name of the performing arts. … read more
War and Eats: Chef Katie Weinner Dishes on Top Chef
Because of Katie Weinner’s inventive cooking style, Bravo’s reality cooking competition, Top Chef, sought her out as an applicant for the show. Since then, she’s been representing Utah’s culinary scene with professionalism and grace under pressure. … read more
Cyber Heist: Local Game Rocks the Indie Festival Circuit
It’s the year 2114. The price tag on higher education has been jacked up to an exorbitant rate, resulting in billions of dollars in student debt. Sensing a financial loophole, the Department of Education begins to allow mega corporations to purchase these outstanding debts, effectively turning college students into indentured servants. … read more
Sundance Film Review: 6 Desires: DH Lawrence and Sardinia
On paper, this film comes across as pretty damn intellectually daunting—the type of film that goes over your head. But something about the director’s rhythmic narration set to images of dew-flecked spider webs succeed in transporting the audience into this strange world that appears to have remained unchanged since the 1920s. … read more
Sundance Film Review: It Follows
David Robert Mitchell’s dissection of the paranoia and emotional detachment that plagues our suburbs is the genesis of this fresh interpretation of the horror genre. It Follows feels like a natural progression of the teenage horror film—one that uses the complexity of today’s young people as a canvas for some expertly-crafted, psychosexual drama. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Hunting Ground
Though the bulk of the film focuses on articulating how colleges like Harvard, Stanford and Berkeley spend more of their resources on covering up sexual allegations than actually punishing the perpetrators, the stories of the survivors and their efforts to gain national traction and support leaves the audience with the feeling that things are slowly changing for the better. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Witch
Robert Eggers pulls no punches and makes no apologies in this film. The Witch’s scenes are steeped in primal dread, and each actor makes the audience feel the seams come apart as paranoia and mistrust begin to take their toll. The performances are explosive, the tension is gut-wrenching, and the settings are nightmarish. … read more
Sundance Film Review: The Overnight
While The Overnight has a few flaws in its execution, the chemistry among the principal actors comes close to making up for them. It’s not a perfect film, but it offers a unique and funny story about what people are willing to do in order to strengthen a marriage. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Christmas, Again
While there is value in creating cinema that captures the everyday human experience, Christmas, Again overshoots that mark by being so real that it’s boring. At the very least, films should tell stories about interesting characters. … read more
Sundance Film Review: True Story
The terse chemistry between Hill and Franco is gripping to watch—it’s never quite clear who is using whom until the film’s final moments. These two actors deftly play out their characters’ battle for psychological dominance. … read more
Sundance Film Review: City of Gold
City of Gold chronicles the career of a quietly rebellious food critic as he gleefully eschews the stereotypical snobbery that most food critics share. This film is an excellent treatment of a talented critic’s passion for diverse food—and it comes equipped with a restaurant guide in the end credits to boot. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Slow West
In what may be one of the most aptly-named films at this year’s festival, Slow West is in no hurry to tell the story of Scotsman Jay Cavendish and his continent-spanning quest to find Rose, the long-lost love from his hometown. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Me & Earl & The Dying Girl
Upon seeing Me & Earl & the Dying Girl, I was reminded that movies can be commercially successful and good at the same time—and that’s okay. The film chronicles the senior year of Greg, his friend Earl, and Rachel, who has been diagnosed with leukemia. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Glassland
Glassland is both a love story without sex, and a crime story without violence—a decided anomaly among just about every other film about life in an Irish slum. … read more
Sundance Film Review: Chuck Norris vs. Communism
While the Romanian people struggled under their political restraints, a few upstarts started passing around dubbed VHS copies of Western films. Through this, the Romanian people learned about the world outside of their country’s oppressive borders. Chuck Norris vs. Communism is a charming little doc for those of us who believe that movies can be a sanctuary in our darkest moments.
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Carleton Bluford: Just Another Mama’s Boy
The ancient Greeks had their tales of Apollo and Artemis slaughtering the 14 children of Niobe in defense of their mother’s honor; Hamlet’s relationship with Gertrude has fueled literary discussions for hundreds of years; even Buster Bluth’s fixation on his mother Lucille has been weirding us out since 2003. … read more
Adventure Time: The Wasatch Mountain Film Festival
While browsing among the latest outdoor recreational gear at this year’s Adventure+Gear Expo is enough to get the blood pumping, it takes a bit more to become truly inspired. With that in mind, local outdoorsman and film enthusiast Stuart Derman has partnered with Wasatch Mountain Arts to create the first annual Wasatch Mountain Film Festival. … read more
City Weekly’s Pizza Party @ The Gateway 04.25
Like a vigilant night watchman, pizza was there when you and your friends wrote the very last line of code for your very first video game, or when you needed comfort after some asshole took an emotional shotgun to your heart. Pizza has been the unsung companion to all of our victories and defeats over the years, and thanks to City Weekly’s First Annual Pizza Party, the noble pizza pie was properly celebrated. … read more
Review: Waking Austin
After spending some time on Dama Spirit, I found that I was left with more questions than answers—and maybe that’s the point. Perhaps the originators of a site that describes itself as “a creative source dancing with the rhythm of life; moving to inspire and create good vibes” are really on to something. … read more
Journey to Space 3D @ Clark Planetarium
Due to an embarrassing deficiency in math skills and a primal fear of extra-terrestrial abduction, I was never too keen on becoming an astronaut. Regardless, I did grow up with an appreciation of science fiction, and the desire “to boldly go where no one has gone before” was not lost on me. … read more
Savory Salt Lake: Put It in Your Mouth and Squeeze
Listening to experts like Eva’s Charlie Perry walk you through the culinary tapestry of their featured cuisine is one of the most enjoyable parts of Savory Salt Lake. The way words like “grated Manchego cheese” or “braised beef shoulder” roll off their tongue betray the reverence that these chefs have toward their product. … read more
Oh Mai Vietnamese Sandwich Kitchen: Headcheese Is Our Friend
My first visit to Oh Mai not only challenged my perspective of what a sandwich could be, but left me with an appreciation of this cultural staple. … read more
Beneath the Salt: Enter through the Coffee Shop
Beneath the Salt is an event designed to promote local art and provide a bit of group therapy for artsy Utahns who need a quick boost to their creativity and enthusiasm. The event consists of an intimate gathering of around ten local artists who will be displaying their work on both levels of Kokopelli’s Koffee. In addition to the artwork, attendees will be treated to live music, DJs and even a hula hooper or two. “It’s really more of an art party,” says organizer Jadey Crofts. … read more
Local Reviews: The New Electric Sound
Whether it was serendipity or just savvy marketing, the debut album from Provo-based surf-rockers The New Electric Sound has arrived just in time for summer. Generally speaking, the words “surf-rockers” and “Provo” don’t jive with one another, but this album just might change that. It’s the type of music that screams to be blasted out of topless convertibles cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway as the sun lazily sets over the horizon. … read more
Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Provo’s Up-and-Coming Food Scene
Up until recently, I never really considered Provo a place that cultivated any authentic type of food culture. It’s full of various chain restaurants, fast food joints and a few dives that offer a bit of local charm, but Provo’s food scene was almost nonexistent. That was until I attended Local First’s Celebrate the Bounty event, where three Provo sparkplugs brought their A-game: The farm-to-table virtuosos of Communal Restaurant, the Southwestern Native American pioneers of Black Sheep Cafe, and the regional comfort food experts of Station 22. … read more
The Cultural Hall Podcast: Mormons on Mormons
Listeners of X96’s popular Radio From Hell show are familiar with the dulcet tones of Richie T. Steadman, though he is often unheralded as the fourth member of the RFH team. As an active member of the LDS Church, Steadman provides the show with a unique insight on issues that affect a large portion of Utah’s community, without being a dick about it. In an effort to expand the dialogue about these issues, Steadman founded a podcast called The Cultural Hall.
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Les Madeleines: Savoring is Encouraged
Throughout my culinary journeys, I’ve had the pleasure of coming across a few establishments that are holding out against the growing tide of mass-produced faux meat and trafficking cryogenically frozen vegetables from halfway across the country. These are restaurants where food is prepared to be enjoyed, not scarfed. Les Madeleines has been around for a decade, and I wish I had taken advantage of its complete culinary catalogue much earlier than I did. … read more
Taqueria 27: an Original Spin on Classic Food
As soon as I entered Taqueria 27, my eye was drawn to a wall-sized chalkboard that featured beautiful sketches of the restaurant’s vast selection of beer and tequila. Though I’m not a drinker myself, I hear tell that drinking beer and/or tequila with one’s tacos is the shit. So when you come to this restaurant and see their dedication to providing customers with a wide variety of drinks alongside their wide variety of tacos, you get the sense that someone knows what they’re doing. … 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
Finca: ¿Dónde está la Tapería?
At its core, Finca has embraced the Spanish concept of tapas, selections of small plates that are usually paired with wine or cocktails. Though they do offer larger entrées, there’s something both special and casual about sitting around a table with some friends to share five or six tapas options along with a few of their award-winning craft cocktails. … read more
Haters Gonna Hate: My Week With Hatred
Hatred has no shortage of violence—the plot of the game is to take control of a psycho and murder as many people as possible. And that’s it. The game offers no explanation as to why a player should guide this greasy-haired maniac on a killing spree, and therein lies the game’s biggest problem. … read more
E3 2015: It Gets Weird – Indies and Indiecade –...
My third and final day was more of a social experiment than anything else. I have a full roster of both triple A and indie games that will require my immediate attention over the next few months, and I managed to score a playtest with every game that was on my wishlist—so what else was there to do? When you reach this point at E3, there’s only one option: Go see all the weird shit that Indiecade and the College Games Competition have to offer. … read more
E3 2015: Little Big Con – Day One
While the day zero press conferences make it easy to drool over the pantheon of new and exciting video games will be premiering this year, E3’s real power manifests itself on the exhibition floor. It’s a humbling experience to take control of a fledgling game as its developer looks on like a proud parent, but it’s these surreal moments that truly determine whether an upcoming title will be something special. … read more
E3 2015: Prepare to Party Hard with Dark Souls 3...
The best thing about E3 is that a mind-altering video game experience is always waiting just around the corner. Even when I think that I’ve seen every genre or game mechanic that there is to see, some crazy-ass developer comes up with something that makes me redefine what a video game is. On my second day of E3, I dug deep into the fertile loam of publishers tinyBuild and Bandai Namco to find a lineup of games that tested my boundaries in all the right ways. … read more
March 2015 Movie Reviews
Movie reviews for Fifty Shades Of Grey, It Follows, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Super Sentai Zyuranger and What We Do In The Shadows.
Review: American Sniper
While American Sniper is an excellently crafted film about the lonely road that all true heroes must walk, it’s the story that took place behind the scenes that makes the film so much more important. … read more
Food Review: Rye – Show Me The Shoyu
In less than a year of operation, Rye has quickly established itself as an integral part of Utah’s dining scene—especially among those hankering for a bit of post-concert bread-breaking.
Guy Harding: The Brains Behind The Brew
If you’ve been to Nobrow Coffee Werks or Publik Coffee Roasters, you may have noticed their dutiful baristas brewing your coffee with a machine that looks like it was pilfered from the lab of a mad scientist. Have no fear, citizens—you are merely gazing upon what could very well be the future of coffee brewing as we know it.
Food Review: Luna Blanca Taqueria
Seated right at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, skiers can stop in for some tasty riffs on traditional Mexican street tacos on their way up the canyon—or on their way back, if the taco craving happens to strike when you’re halfway into a run down the mountain. … read more
NomNom Finder: Keeping Tabs On Utah’s Food Trucks
It was a situation in which I often found myself: hungry, in an unfamiliar part of town and not really wanting to hit up a fast food joint. Unbeknownst to me at the time, there was an app that could have made my food truck odyssey more efficient—NomNom Finder … read more
Eat the Food, Leave the Dishes: 10 Thanksgiving Hotspots
Thanksgiving is synonymous with gathering friends and family for a glorious feast that inevitably becomes the motivation of New Year’s resolutions nationwide. For those looking to enjoy all the feasting without accumulating piles of dirty dishes, here are 10 local restaurants that have you covered. … read more
Skeletons In The Closet: Utah’s Horror Film History
Though Utah got its cinematic start with the westerns of John Ford, it’s no stranger to the horror genre. Our state has been the backdrop to several celluloid slashers—peruse the list … if you dare. … read more
Spitz
Don’t let that pesky, little umlaut in the word “döner” freak you out—if you do, you’ll find yourself missing out on something that fills a previously unknown niche in Salt Lake’s downtown food scene. … read more
Utah Food Trucks: Indie Rock You Can Eat
Catch Utah Food Trucks on Thursday nights. Food trucks include Cupbop, Off the Grid, Bento Truck and Grub Truck Food Company. … read more
Del Mar Al Lago: Bringing the Beach to the Beehive
Despite the cold weather that plagues the Wasatch Front during the beginning of spring, a trip to South Salt Lake’s Del Mar al Lago is a great way to speed up the seasonal transition—or at least fool yourself into thinking that summer has come early. … read more