Someone recently told me that I was on the verge of becoming a hoarder. Yikes! My wife smiled and agreed that I have eccentric tastes, and a lot of original art by local artists, and art made by my own hands hanging everywhere, plus too many books and altars. I responded, “It looks crowded, but that’s only because we need more room!” I don’t have papers stacked floor to … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2017
Farm to Bath at Simply Eden
Athena Steadman made her way from food management to soap management, creating some of the state’s most organic, natural products. She made the jump more than ten years ago, testing and tying recipes for her own skin. When Athena was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she chose to make changes by watching what she ate and what she put on her skin. This evolved into the … [Read more...]
Antique Pickers are Turning Other People’s Junk into Treasures
Matt Binyon, owner of American Rust Company, started going to garage sales by himself when he was 13-years-old. Picking was in his blood. A picker is someone who finds valuable items in other people’s junk. “I’m the only one in my family that’s into this stuff,” says Binyon. “People watch ‘American Pickers,’” says Binyon, “but it doesn’t work that way. Half the time these … [Read more...]
Gold Hill, Utah–A Treasure Town on the Verge of Extinction
The Tooele County recorder said yes, indeed there are permanent residents in Gold Hill, Utah, but “they’re the kind of people that might greet you on the porch with a shotgun and ask you what you’re doing there.” Gold Hill, Utah, is tucked up against the West Desert hills near the Beehive State and the Silver State border. The unincorporated town shares the common … [Read more...]
Chic on the Cheap
For many people, shopping at Deseret Industries or Goodwill is the only affordable way to buy clothes, toys, or furniture. Among these resources for everyday living lies the possibility of discovering cultural artifacts such as rare records, clothes, or books for a low cost. It is not a new phenomenon to pick through these stores’ merchandise for unique items, however, in … [Read more...]
Collecting Shed Antlers is a Hobby for Some, Big Business to Others
People have been making use of the antlers shed by deer, elk and moose for eons. Whether used by primitive tribes as tools or weapons, hung on the walls of mountain cabins and hunting lodges as trophies, or made into elaborate creations sold in high-end furniture stores in places like Jackson Hole, Park City and Aspen, the branch-like bones cast off each year by ungulate … [Read more...]
Toscano Hires New Executive Chef
Toscano, the south valley’s premier Italian restaurant, has secured the services of Jason Hammett as its Executive Chef. Jason comes to Toscano from Brio Tuscan Grill at City Creek Center, where he served as the executive chef. Prior to Brio, Jason was the Chef/Partner with Buca Di Beppo in Salt Lake City, as well as chef stints with the Salt Lake Hilton Doubletree, Chez … [Read more...]
Strange Things From Hidden Sources
I have spent my entire life collecting legends and researching the mysteries and aspects of the human experience. Over the years, I have amassed a treasure trove of “Utah Folklore Stories.” Most of these stories involve what people would define as the “supernatural or miraculous: spiritual-phenomena, strange and out-of-place creatures, and faerie-folk, for example. Some of … [Read more...]
Revisiting Utah’s Mining Past
Utah’s Underground Legacy Utah’s mining history is rich in ore, lore, and gore. Tales of lost mines guarded by winged seraphim and the spirits of Native American warriors have become the stuff of legend, recounted in campfire tales at Boy Scout camps and lauded by authors eager to exploit the greedy tendencies of gullible readers. It’s fascinating stuff, and fables, true or … [Read more...]
Wildflowers, Pioneer Days, Ballroom Dancing, and Utah Theater: July Happenings in Utah.
July 6th thru 15th: American Fork Steel Days. Highlights include a carnival, art show, car show, parade, and fireworks. Visit the website for more information. July 8th: The Salt Lake County Library and Ballroom Utah are teaming up to offer free adult dance classes at various libraries through mid-August. Visit the library website for a full list of classes. On July 8th … [Read more...]