Esther Meroño

Editorial Assistant

Despite the fact that we spent a few months pronouncing her first name incorrectly (Es-stair) and half the time we’re leaving letters off of her last name, SLUG Magazine still has mad love for this resident word nerd and member of the copy editing team. Hell, if it wasn’t for Meroño, chances are we’d spell Salt Lake Underground incorrectly. SLUG recently put this feisty fixie rider’s extreme attention to detail to use and decided to let her revamp our extremely outdated SLUG Writer's Bible. Meroño graduated in May 2010 with a BA from the University of Utah in English Lit. and is our new editorial assistant. At SLUG we let her write about tall bike jousting, cupcake socials and her favorite band, Thrice––which she claims makes SLUG the “coolest thing” she does. If you happen to see this lady rolling around town on her bicycle, don’t embarrass yourself like we did. “Esther” is Spanish and her first name is pronounced like the famous tap dancer Fred Astaire, not like the unglamorous material polyester.

Hometown
Born in Cartagena, Spain, but my heart belongs to the Great Salt Lake.
When and why did you come to Salt Lake?
My parents wanted me to grow up to be a nice Mormon girl and marry a nice returned missionary in the land of Zion.
When did you start reading SLUG?
Probably about six years ago. I used to come up to Salt Lake for shows (went to high school in "suck it" Cedar City) and would pick up a SLUG at The Pie where we'd usually go eat afterwards.
When and how did you become involved with SLUG?
I'd fantasized about working for SLUG since I was 17. One day I was on coughmyspacecough and saw that SLUG was hiring copy editors. Mike Brown was at my interview and it was scary, but I made it.
Favorite SLUG feature?
I can't pick a single article, so I'm going to go with a feature of the magazine… Probably Dear Dickheads 'cause those are always a lot of fun to read and respond to.
Favorite SLUG Story (something that has happened in your life)?
When I first started, everyone was pronouncing my name wrong, but I didn't really care and I was kinda shy, so I didn't bother to correct them. About three months in, Mike Brown asked me my name and I said it the right way, which confused him 'cause he'd heard everyone pronounce it the other way. Well, he told Angela that they'd been saying it wrong all of this time and I got an email from her apologizing profusely, which just made me feel real dumb for not saying anything for so long. Thanks a lot, Mike Brown. No, really, thanks.
Favorite place to see live music in Salt Lake:
Kilby for intimate shows, In The Venue for bigger shows, Urban when I want to dance and get liquored up close to home.
Favorite restaurant/bar in Salt Lake:
Sage's pizza night for food, Brewvies for all around good times.
Current obsessions, musical or otherwise:
Bicycles, tequila, electronic music.
What was the first show you attended?
Saosin at the Electric Theater in St. George before they got big … Except they didn't show up, so I saw some shitty local band instead.
What was the first record you bought?
The Titanic Soundtrack. So what?
What was the best event you ever attended?
Hmm … I always have a blast being a part of SLUG's Pride float. Every year tops the the last. This year I rode around a flying monkey (Alex Ortega) on my handlebars for a couple of blocks and I got to dress up like a munchkin.
Who would you most like to meet from a SLUG cover?
Right now, I'd like to meet that giant angry mug of beer on the cover of the 2010 beer issue and drink it up 'cause it's fuckin' hot outside.