Issues: Issue 266 - February 2011
Tempest Couture
Tempest Couture is definitely making a name for itself as a unique and premiere boutique. The shop came about because of the love that owners Melissa Christensen and Patrick Bogdanich have for designers that no one in Salt Lake was carrying. Tempest stands apart from everything else because of the edgy bondage-chic style they present. The pieces in the store have more attention to detail and are better quality because they come directly from the designers and artists. … read more
Blue Plate Diner
Since 2000, Blue Plate Diner has been a favorite of local scenesters of every age. Owners John Bouzek and Tamrika Khvtisiashvili attribute the unique diner’s style to falling in love with an old 1940s soda fountain in Salina, Utah while they were passing through on a road trip. Inspired, the two combined their fondness of mom-and-pop cafés and appetite for authentic American cuisine with Bouzek’s cooking skills, and Blue Plate was realized. … read more
Urban Lounge
In 2008, after nearly a decade of working at Urban Lounge doing sound, Chris Wright became majority owner of one of Salt Lake’s most prominent 21+ venues. “I put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the place over the years. It was a ‘home away from home’ and I just couldn’t imagine Salt Lake without The Urban Lounge,” says Wright. “When I heard it was in jeopardy of going out of business, I put a team together and we were able to [purchase Urban].” … read more
Slowtrain
Since 2006, Slowtrain has been a fixture on Broadway (300 S.). Through a blog, Twitter, newsletter and Facebook, they keep their customers in constant contact, which may be the key to their success. Apart from their social networking, Slowtrain has also put on some really good shows (the majority of them free) that undoubtedly inspired loyalty amongst local audiophiles. Slowtrain’s ncredible level of involvement with local music has made it an indispensible local feature. … read more
Fresh
Adding a little plaid and pizzazz to the yuppy Ninth and Ninth district, Helen Wade-Joice and her brother, Ian Wade, are the proud owners of Salt Lake City lifestyle-inspired clothing boutique, Fresh. Having opened up shop in July 2009, Fresh offers a perfect blend of your favorite modern apparel brands with a sprinkling of local flavor. Fresh defines Salt Lake City style—bet you didn’t even know there was such a thing. … read more
W Lounge
Casey Staker purchased the W Lounge in April 2004, mostly out of boredom and the opportunity to fulfill a long-time dream of owning a dance club. Since that time, Staker has transformed the small space into one of the hottest indie dance clubs in the city. Rye Rye, Chromeo, Million $ Mano, The Hood Internet and many other notable electro acts have packed the venue and provided club-goers with an intimate live experience, killer sound, low ticket prices and nightly drink specials. … read more
Salt Lake Bicycle Collective
Part of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective’s mission is to create good memories for every child. Jonathan Morrison, the Collective’s Executive Director, is dedicated to this cause and sees his role as a dot connector in the process. Though the Collective’s pedal pushing programs and volunteer-based bike shop have become integral to the local community, Morrison attributes the community’s influence as the driving force behind its creation and development. … read more
Jackalope Lounge
Roxan Morin and Sunyin Marci, owners of The Jackalope, are two of the most ever-present and semi-omnipotent bar owners/tenders in Salt Lake City. The whole “It’s better to be feared than loved” approach to service is thrown completely out the window. You can find them behind the bar on any given night serving your favorite firewater, killing you with kindness all the while. … read more
Este
When a kitchen fire tore through Este Pizzeria’s Sugarhouse location, founder Dave Heiblim had few options. In order to finance the rebirth and continuation of his New York-style establishment, he sold a franchise to then-manager Brook Lund, who had worked in pizza since he was 16 and at Este since 2005. Lund quickly set up shop downtown on 200 S. and since then, he’s been using his decade-plus of pizza experience and slinging huge slices of thin, topping-laden pie with gusto. … read more
Blindside
Mo Collet, owner of the Blindside in Sugarhouse, has built a reputable shop by giving back to the community of skateboarders and snowboarders that frequent the area. Blindside is a staple of the skateboard and snowboard scene and has been for quite some time, without any plans to stop anytime soon. I sat down with Mo and banged out some hard-hitting questions about SLUG and the 22nd birthday of the magazine. … read more