Utah Stories

The Voice of Local Utah

Magna, Utah—the town that forgot its name

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Pleasant Green, AKA Magna The pioneer history of Pleasant Green, commonly known as Magna, Utah, remains largely untold outside of dusty family histories and faded folklore. I have been remedying this situation through YouTube documentaries that will help preserve this rich history, revealing a complete picture of these lost years to younger generations.  There is even a … [Read more...]

Toasted Barrel Brewery

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From Homebrew to Business Success Sage Dawson and Lynn Litchfield—owners of Toasted Barrel Brewery next door to The Soup Kitchen in SLC—say they got into the beer brewing biz because “We have an extreme passion for good beers and couldn't find the special sour beers we wanted here, so that made us take the leap.” Although they’re now proud owners of a brewery specializing in … [Read more...]

Plexiglass with Class – Ghost Long Board

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  Skateboarding has not historically been considered a family sport, but neighbors and business partners Russ Warner and Brent Johnson are on a mission to challenge the stereotypes of skate culture. Their company is Ghost Long Board. Located in Cedar Hills, it makes plexiglass longboards designed to get the whole family outside and active. Russ grew up … [Read more...]

B & W Apothecary

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  In 2003, after spending a year deployed in the hot dry air of Iraq as an Army diesel mechanic and later experiencing skin cancer, Brandi Nealis decided her skin needed some TLC. As a result, B & W Apothecary was born. Her project started five years ago when she experimented with making her own lotions. “It took forever to get the right consistency and learn … [Read more...]

Taking Back Our Economy One Bar of Soap At a Time

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Welcome to Riverton! Welcome to Sandy! Welcome to Bountiful! Traveling along the Wasatch Front, we see evidence of the larger problem of the American economy: homogenous central retail shopping districts. It’s like a bad radio station that only cycles through the top 10 hits. “And now for more oldies but goodies: Walmart! Costco! Applebees! McDonalds! And if you missed … [Read more...]

The Best Places to Get Hot Chocolate in Utah

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Utah is known for having the best snow on earth—it’s also known for having that snow (and accompanying cold temperatures) start as early as October and come and go through April. So how do Utahns handle such long winters? Besides working up a sweat skiing and snowboarding, they drink lots of hot chocolate. Whether you live in Utah or are just visiting, if you’re wondering … [Read more...]

For a Good Road Trip, Build a Bike and Ride It

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One of the most efficient ways to travel is by bike. And one of the best ways to amplify a bike journey is to build your own bicycle. Designing and fabricating a bike is a creative journey sure to extend and enhance any road trip. It’s a way to whet the wanderlust. And if you can’t build a bike yourself, collaborate with someone who can. In Salt Lake City, that someone is … [Read more...]

Evolve Elements

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After working in architectural woodwork for over 20 years, designing and selling millwork packages for commercial, academic, and retail businesses, Stan Sommer decided to venture out on his own. He saw a lot of millwork, casework and cabinetry work being outsourced to China and other countries to save money. His philosophy is that sending materials overseas creates problems … [Read more...]

Songwriter’s Showcase 

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Scott Cullins' passion for songwriting reignited when he moved to Utah from Teton Valley, Idaho in 2011. But his move to Holladay, in 2017, was like adding music steroid directly into his veins. "You can find an open mic or open jam almost every night of the week in this town," Says Cullins. "I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I was playing at Alchemy Coffee, The Royal … [Read more...]