Moonflower Community Cooperative in Moab, has come a long way from the years it spent in a building made of old ammo boxes in the early 80’s. Back then it was called Life Stream, but was referred to locally as “The health food store.” The store and co-op originally opened in 1975 and was organized by longtime resident Conrad Sorensen. For years it was run on a volunteer … [Read more...]
Moab’s Back of Beyond Books Proves that Indie Book Sellers Can Still Make It
“There are two ways to die in the desert,” says Andy Nettell; “thirst and drowning.” He is repeating one of his recent summaries of a favorite book called The Secret Life of Water, by Craig Childs. Nettell is without a doubt a book lover and enthusiast, and his joy of books is contagious. Books are losing ground to electronic media, and independent bookstores are falling by … [Read more...]
Moab Made Artisan Shop Features Local Art and Artisan Goods
The greatest thrills in writing a human-interest story come from the connections and facets that can appear from one single, passionately-written piece. A writer finds a gem in the wilderness, and holds that gem of words and photos up to the light to see that it actually reflects far and wide, and that it’s not only the writer who appreciates this rare find, but others as … [Read more...]
Summer Concert Season, Red Butte Plant Sale, Moab Arts Festival and Utah Theater
May 11th: Excellence in the Community Concert Series with Better Off With the Blues at 7pm. The concert series is free to the public. For all dates click here. May 11th: Yellowstone to Uintas Connection - Wildlife Migration Corridors. Presented by Wasatch Packtivists at the Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E 400 S in Library Room B. This presentation is about the work to … [Read more...]
Seasonal Mecca or Enclave for the Elite? Moab’s Housing Market is at War with Itself.
Randy Day has been a Moabite for the past 45 years. On the walls of his office at Anasazi Realty in Moab are photos of the founding fathers and Jesus. He shares a very brief version of his success story with me. Growing up, his family was in the habit of moving every few years, but instead of leaving the town he had settled into and enjoyed so much as a 18-year-old, he … [Read more...]
Star Gazing in Moab with Beer
If Moab’s thousands of acres of mountain biking and off-road trails are making you thirsty, there is a sanctuary nearby known as Moab Brewery. Besides serving as the home of Jeep Safari, Moab is quickly becoming known as the "mountain biking capital of North America"; and it's a well-known fact that mountain biking and craft beer go together like love and marriage. After … [Read more...]
Innovating Primitive – The World’s Greatest Flintknapper Lives in Castle Valley
When I learned that the man I had been tracking down to write about for the last six months was going to be at a “primitive skills gathering” just outside of Phoenix, I considered my own lifestyle: I had dozens of “things to do” on a list, but why don’t I just up and leave town for a few days to do exactly what I want? He was doing exactly what he wanted to do, why couldn’t I? … [Read more...]
Cataract Canyon – Taming the Wild Beast
"What's the difference between a mutual fund and a river guide?" asks Aaron Rappleye as we swap jokes at camp on the river. “A mutual fund matures in four years and starts paying out." There are plenty of applicants with delayed maturity, or Peter Pan syndrome, who would gladly love to become a river guide on the Colorado River in Moab, Utah. The job is seasonal and it … [Read more...]
Moab’s Affordable Housing Shortage
Moab is a rare city in the U.S: It is quickly growing, yet has still retained its own unique identity. There is no Wal-Mart in Moab, very few chain stores, and no big-box developments or strip malls, which is why so many love living here. But growth is inevitable, and many people who want to live here are finding it harder to secure housing. Real estate prices are increasing … [Read more...]
Moab’s Bluejohn Canyon
One of the many remote, seldom traveled, yet now famous places near Moab, Utah is Bluejohn Canyon. If the place name doesn’t sound familiar, perhaps the movie 127 Hours starring James Franco does. Or perhaps the name Aron Ralston rings a bell. He saved his life by amputating his own arm after it became pinned under an errant chock stone. Traveling throughout Utah and … [Read more...]