While you may be a conscientious consumer of many products and services, you are most likely not a smart consumer of healthcare. According to the British Medical Journal, error is the third leading cause of death in the US, equal to two jumbo jets crashing every day with no survivors. When even one jet crashes, it’s on every news channel. But what would happen if hundreds of … [Read more...]
New World Distillery Brings Crystalline Gin to Ogden Valley
Ashley and Chris Cross have entered a world of botanicals, brews, spirits and a cozy store up in the Wasatch Back near Pine View Reservoir in Eden, Utah. Aptly, they have named their new business New World Distillery. Ashley is a former school teacher and Chris is a former Navy Pilot and trainer. Together, they decided to open a distillery four years ago. It’s been a … [Read more...]
A Chance Encounter With One of Utah’s Quiet Heroes
I met Willy while riding my bike on a rural road in central Utah. A thorn had flattened my tire, and after making a couple calls with unpromising results, I set out walking. Willy was 200 feet from me, so I encountered him soon enough. He was clipping a tree with an extended pruner that resembled long but awkward scissors. “Hey, how’s it going?” I yelled. “Huh?” Willy … [Read more...]
From Ski Bum to Ski Empire: Meet KÜHL founder Kevin Boyle and his amazing team
Walking into KÜHL’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, you can’t help but be immediately struck by the design of the facility. High ceilings and tall windows welcome a bright, natural light into the lobby, which offers a large commercial kitchen and a dining/meeting area. Something smells delicious. Employees aren’t at cubicles, but at tall desks and open work areas. Everyday a … [Read more...]
Beehive Naturals
“Our kids actually do a lot of the work on the farm—milking goats and tending bees. When we aren’t farming we put them to work making the products.” The Ginn kids don’t play video games or watch TV (except an occasional football game) instead, Sam Ginn says, “They help me with the massive amount of work” on their small backyard homestead in Plain City (just north of … [Read more...]
West-ward Ho: Cowboy West Taylor
The pursuit of happiness comes in all forms, including how one St. George man made his dreams come true after having his house foreclosed and losing everything. “I remember being in the city and working and the stress, and I was wondering how I was going to just get happy. How am I ever going to achieve happiness?” West Taylor is sitting with us under a leaky outdoor … [Read more...]
Jordan River Parkway–Wasatch Front Long Distance Trail
In the spirit of the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail, Utah’s Jordan River Parkway Trail offers recreation and exploration along the Wasatch Front with a perspective and angle vastly different from more well-traveled roads. The trail stretches from Utah County through Salt Lake County and into Davis County. From end to end it is a … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Cobbler
“I am not famous, I am Notorious,” the sign in Dan’s shop says. Dan Ruger fixes shoes, an almost lost art in America along with a shoe shop’s rich smell of leather, whirring machines and racks of neatly boxed shoes. Dan learned his craft from a California Armenian. After a naysayer said he would never make it as a master cobbler, Dan moved to Utah without a penny in his … [Read more...]
Why do so many great artists die young?
One of the most elevated highs is to nail a story, a piece of art, or an idea. One of the most discouraging lows is to feel burned out for lack of inspiration or producing something that is sub-standard or uninspired. Becoming an artist is scary because so many artists become absorbed completely in their own egos. Often after a great high of nailing it, comes a dreaded … [Read more...]