Authors: Alex Springer
Journey to Space 3D @ Clark Planetarium
Due to an embarrassing deficiency in math skills and a primal fear of extra-terrestrial abduction, I was never too keen on becoming an astronaut. Regardless, I did grow up with an appreciation of science fiction, and the desire “to boldly go where no one has gone before” was not lost on me. … read more
Savory Salt Lake: Put It in Your Mouth and Squeeze
Listening to experts like Eva’s Charlie Perry walk you through the culinary tapestry of their featured cuisine is one of the most enjoyable parts of Savory Salt Lake. The way words like “grated Manchego cheese” or “braised beef shoulder” roll off their tongue betray the reverence that these chefs have toward their product. … read more
Oh Mai Vietnamese Sandwich Kitchen: Headcheese Is Our Friend
My first visit to Oh Mai not only challenged my perspective of what a sandwich could be, but left me with an appreciation of this cultural staple. … read more
Beneath the Salt: Enter through the Coffee Shop
Beneath the Salt is an event designed to promote local art and provide a bit of group therapy for artsy Utahns who need a quick boost to their creativity and enthusiasm. The event consists of an intimate gathering of around ten local artists who will be displaying their work on both levels of Kokopelli’s Koffee. In addition to the artwork, attendees will be treated to live music, DJs and even a hula hooper or two. “It’s really more of an art party,” says organizer Jadey Crofts. … read more
Local Reviews: The New Electric Sound
Whether it was serendipity or just savvy marketing, the debut album from Provo-based surf-rockers The New Electric Sound has arrived just in time for summer. Generally speaking, the words “surf-rockers” and “Provo” don’t jive with one another, but this album just might change that. It’s the type of music that screams to be blasted out of topless convertibles cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway as the sun lazily sets over the horizon. … read more
Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Provo’s Up-and-Coming Food Scene
Up until recently, I never really considered Provo a place that cultivated any authentic type of food culture. It’s full of various chain restaurants, fast food joints and a few dives that offer a bit of local charm, but Provo’s food scene was almost nonexistent. That was until I attended Local First’s Celebrate the Bounty event, where three Provo sparkplugs brought their A-game: The farm-to-table virtuosos of Communal Restaurant, the Southwestern Native American pioneers of Black Sheep Cafe, and the regional comfort food experts of Station 22. … read more
The Cultural Hall Podcast: Mormons on Mormons
Listeners of X96’s popular Radio From Hell show are familiar with the dulcet tones of Richie T. Steadman, though he is often unheralded as the fourth member of the RFH team. As an active member of the LDS Church, Steadman provides the show with a unique insight on issues that affect a large portion of Utah’s community, without being a dick about it. In an effort to expand the dialogue about these issues, Steadman founded a podcast called The Cultural Hall.
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Les Madeleines: Savoring is Encouraged
Throughout my culinary journeys, I’ve had the pleasure of coming across a few establishments that are holding out against the growing tide of mass-produced faux meat and trafficking cryogenically frozen vegetables from halfway across the country. These are restaurants where food is prepared to be enjoyed, not scarfed. Les Madeleines has been around for a decade, and I wish I had taken advantage of its complete culinary catalogue much earlier than I did. … read more
Taqueria 27: an Original Spin on Classic Food
As soon as I entered Taqueria 27, my eye was drawn to a wall-sized chalkboard that featured beautiful sketches of the restaurant’s vast selection of beer and tequila. Though I’m not a drinker myself, I hear tell that drinking beer and/or tequila with one’s tacos is the shit. So when you come to this restaurant and see their dedication to providing customers with a wide variety of drinks alongside their wide variety of tacos, you get the sense that someone knows what they’re doing. … read more
R&R Barbecue: Award-Winning Eats
Barbecue has always played by its own rules, which don’t usually coincide with those of most restaurants. It takes no shame in its finger-licking messiness, its closely guarded recipe secrets or its proclivity for gigantic portions. Be that as it may, I was present at KUER’s Savory Salt Lake event last June when R&R Barbecue took home both the Celebrity Judge and the People’s Choice awards—it was a moment that made me stop and take notice. … read more
Finca: ¿Dónde está la Tapería?
At its core, Finca has embraced the Spanish concept of tapas, selections of small plates that are usually paired with wine or cocktails. Though they do offer larger entrées, there’s something both special and casual about sitting around a table with some friends to share five or six tapas options along with a few of their award-winning craft cocktails. … read more
Haters Gonna Hate: My Week With Hatred
Hatred has no shortage of violence—the plot of the game is to take control of a psycho and murder as many people as possible. And that’s it. The game offers no explanation as to why a player should guide this greasy-haired maniac on a killing spree, and therein lies the game’s biggest problem. … read more
