Traveling home in an old school bus from the last Grateful Dead concert, Mike Ginsburg, a hippie with a lot of soul, found himself in the small rural town of Monroe when his bus broke down on the side of the road. From there ― which is darn close to the middle of nowhere ― fate took over, as it usually does, and Mike was exactly where he was meant to be. Within a week of … [Read more...]
Moab Utah: The Man Who Quit Money
Hitch-hiking through Pennsylvania in 2000, Daniel “Suelo” Shellabarger had $30 left in his pocket, which he left in a phone booth. That decisive day over two decades ago led to 15 years of living without money for the former Moab, Utah local, who returned to monetary society in 2015 to care for his parents. He now lives in Colorado with his mother, pepper-haired and grizzled as … [Read more...]
No Hiding the Homeless: Pandemic pulls back the curtain on SLC homelessness
Next to the Geraldine E. King Women’s Center sits a cluster of tents and homeless individuals leaning against a nearby building. The Center, at 700 South and State Street stands witness to one of dozens of encampments scattered throughout the city, highlighting the persistent issue of homelessness that has become even more visible amid the pandemic. “There have been more … [Read more...]
Beavers Make a Splash in Utah: Reintroducing Beavers to Restore Watershed in Utah
The resounding “Smack!” of a broad tail on tranquil water is how beavers signal to one another that danger lurks nearby. Beavers confronted their greatest danger in the mid-19th Century, at the time of the early fur trade, when they were hunted and trapped to near-extinction. Highly prized for their water repellency and warmth, beaver skin coats and hats became … [Read more...]
What are those Take-a-Book Leave-a-Book Boxes You’ve been seeing in Sugar House all about?
In our wonderful, whimsical, walkable Sugar House, among my favorite things to discover are the take-a-book leave-a-book boxes known as Little Free Libraries. These are small, sidewalk adjacent book houses eagerly waiting to share their contents with a passerby. They may be simple or elaborate, small or roomy, no-nonsense or fanciful. They may reflect the personality of their … [Read more...]
Bollypop – A New Musical Fusion
I stood up from the fancy gold colored couch and smoothed out the wrinkles on my magenta gown. “Lub Dub, Lub Dub, Lub Dub.” My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to explode. As I walked up on stage, my hands turned cold, my throat ran as dry as a desert ditch, and a trickle of sweat ran down my cheek. I had worked hours a day, days a week, and weeks a month … [Read more...]
Off the Eaten Path – Finding Flavor in Unlikely Locations
Some of Utah’s best cuisine can be found in places that might not look like gustatory havens - strip malls, shopping centers or far from neighborhood culinary centers. But they are worth seeking out, especially these ones. It should go without saying that it would be wise to phone these businesses before heading out to them. Some offer only takeout dining during the pandemic … [Read more...]
Bob Dustman – Over 1,000 Times on Top of Mt. Wire
Although I had never met him in person, Bob Dustman became a friend of mine. I valued him for his fortitude, determination and love of the outdoors - qualities one can discern from a small plaque at the top of Mt. Wire which reads Bob Dustman (1925 to 2018) - Over 1,000 Times On Top. His wife would say it was over 1,500 times. Lately, I’ve taken to buying old guidebooks, … [Read more...]
And She’s Dope Too: Women’s Adventure Collective Embraces the Outdoors
Have you ever taken a girls’ trip that involved paddle boarding, trail running, and mountain biking, followed by nights around a campfire? If not, AndShesDopeToo (ASDT) is here to help you have this unforgettable experience. I asked Jennifer Killian, founder of ASDT, what made her start the Ogden-based outdoor women’s collective. She explained that the business grew as a … [Read more...]
Thomas Kane Diverts U.S.-Utah Showdown
One hundred and sixty-two years ago, a small-statured and often sickly thirty-six-year-old Philadelphian lawyer rode through Echo Canyon eastward to find an army and negotiate a peace in a last-ditch, unofficial effort to avert a civil war. He’d already sailed from the east coast of the United States to Panama, where he’d ridden the railroad across the isthmus to the Pacific … [Read more...]