Issues: Issue 284 - August 2012
Ross Imburgia: Mad Light Science
Fiddling with old computer circuit boards and tapping out lines of code, Ross Imburgia prefers the term “tinkerer” to “artist.” Even though the brilliant light trails left in the wake of his colorful, strobing hula hoops might appear artsy at first glance, he maintains that his design process is closer to invention than creativity. Nonetheless, his easy laugh and relaxed demeanor evidence the satisfaction he feels at successfully implementing his ideas and creating his fun, functional inventions. … read more
Blazing Battles: SOD Heats up Ogden
On Saturday July 14, we escaped deep into the heart of Ogden to chill out at Crossroads Skatepark for the first Summer of Death skate series contest. Typically, a hot warehouse full of groms and sweaty old men is not a place you want to be when the temps are soaring past the hotter-than-hell marker on your thermometer. Fortunately, the locale worked out perfectly since, for the first time in months, the water molecules in the clouds finally decided to band together and pay us a visit. … read more
Photo Feature: Dyllan Call
I first met Dyllan Call when I was working at Blindside in 2006. He was a skinny, 15-year-old kid who was quickly becoming one of Utah County’s top all-terrain shredders. He skated everything with style and speed, and always had a smile on his face. Fast-forward to 2012: Call is 21 now, he’s 6’3” and grows a better beard than I ever will. … read more
The Salty Boiz: How I Learned to Love Skateboarding in...
I met the Salty Boiz during one of those “transitionary” times in my life. This loosely-knit skateboard brotherhood was composed of Sam Cadillac—a tattooed, Tongan 30-something with a honey voice, a slick pompadour and a missing front tooth—and Jeff Juice, a pie-eyed lurp with as much affection for Herb Alpert and Neil Diamond as Spazz and Scholastic Deth. I felt an immediate kinship with them and their bawdy brand of urban skating. … read more
Salty’s Summer Skate Series Scorches SLC
Salty Peaks has been keeping the skate community alive every summer with jam sessions and contests since they opened their doors in 1987, and melting asphalt and raging forest fires aren’t going to stop ‘em. This year’s summer-long venture––Salty’s Summer Skate Series––is approaching the final dates with a contest at Fairmont on Aug. 12 and the championship in Kearns on Sept. 9. … read more
Food Review: Mazza
A Utah staple since 2000, Mazza is arguably the best Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurant in town. Mazza started as a family eatery, serving their food on paper plates out of the small 15th and 15th location. By 2007, demand was high enough for owner Ali Sabbah to open a second restaurant—an upscale, fine-dining establishment at 9th and 9th. … read more
Princess Kennedy: Tatt-Ew
One of the things that I hear the most from my out-of-town guests is how amazed they are by the sheer number of tattooed people in the 801. We all know that the number of tattoo parlors alone is overwhelming, but I think we live in such an inked-up community that we don’t really notice. I think one of the reasons for all the body art is simply the determination of a good 80% of us to make sure people know we are not Mormon—at least, that was the case for me. … read more
Mike Brown’s Monthly Dirt: Arts & Crafts
With the spirit of Craft Lake City bubbling about Salt Lake, I decided to make this article about my own crafting exercises. I am by no means a serious crafter, despite my rich Mormon pioneer heritage being all about it. They were also into polygamy and killing Indians and shit like that, so I don’t really care if I don’t take after my ancestors. … read more
Beautiful Godzilla: My Chain Hits My Frame When I’m Bangin’...
I know that, as a cyclist, I’m supposed to love nature and spend the daylight hours outside mountain biking and hugging trees, but give me a fat stack of Tom Hanks movies and every season of 30 Rock on Netflix, and I’ll be happy never seeing the light of day. I only ride bikes ‘cause I hate walking, remember? That being said, movies ABOUT bikes are the cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees, the fixie’s wooly pubes. … read more
Gallery Stroll: Oasis of Art
She calls it “Midwest Meets West”––it reminds me of decor from a Wes Anderson film, the way “sweet” and “edgy” are merged beautifully in Audrey Patten’s paintings, drawings and textiles. I imagine finding this type of artwork tucked away in an elegant farmhouse attic, a mesh of mother’s kitchen knickknacks and father’s old hunting trophies. There’s something familiar about these images, yet they remain wacky and unexpected. … read more