The Salty Boiz: How I Learned to Love Skateboarding in Salt Lake City

I met the Salty Boiz during one of those “transitionary” times in my life. This loosely-knit skateboard brotherhood was composed of Sam Cadillac—a tattooed, Tongan 30-something with a honey voice, a slick pompadour and a missing front tooth—and Jeff Juice, a pie-eyed lurp with as much affection for Herb Alpert and Neil Diamond as Spazz and Scholastic Deth. I felt an immediate kinship with them and their bawdy brand of urban skating. … read more

Salty’s Summer Skate Series Scorches SLC

Salty Peaks has been keeping the skate community alive every summer with jam sessions and contests since they opened their doors in 1987, and melting asphalt and raging forest fires aren’t going to stop ‘em. This year’s summer-long venture––Salty’s Summer Skate Series––is approaching the final dates with a contest at Fairmont on Aug. 12 and the championship in Kearns on Sept. 9. … read more

Food Review: Mazza

A Utah staple since 2000, Mazza is arguably the best Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurant in town. Mazza started as a family eatery, serving their food on paper plates out of the small 15th and 15th location. By 2007, demand was high enough for owner Ali Sabbah to open a second restaurant—an upscale, fine-dining establishment at 9th and 9th. … read more

Princess Kennedy: Tatt-Ew

One of the things that I hear the most from my out-of-town guests is how amazed they are by the sheer number of tattooed people in the 801. We all know that the number of tattoo parlors alone is overwhelming, but I think we live in such an inked-up community that we don’t really notice. I think one of the reasons for all the body art is simply the determination of a good 80% of us to make sure people know we are not Mormon—at least, that was the case for me.  … read more

Mike Brown’s Monthly Dirt: Arts & Crafts

With the spirit of Craft Lake City bubbling about Salt Lake, I decided to make this article about my own crafting exercises. I am by no means a serious crafter, despite my rich Mormon pioneer heritage being all about it. They were also into polygamy and killing Indians and shit like that, so I don’t really care if I don’t take after my ancestors. … read more

Beautiful Godzilla: My Chain Hits My Frame When I’m Bangin’ On The Handlebars

I know that, as a cyclist, I’m supposed to love nature and spend the daylight hours outside mountain biking and hugging trees, but give me a fat stack of Tom Hanks movies and every season of 30 Rock on Netflix, and I’ll be happy never seeing the light of day. I only ride bikes ‘cause I hate walking, remember? That being said, movies ABOUT bikes are the cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees, the fixie’s wooly pubes. … read more

Gallery Stroll: Oasis of Art

She calls it “Midwest Meets West”––it reminds me of decor from a Wes Anderson film, the way “sweet” and “edgy” are merged beautifully in Audrey Patten’s paintings, drawings and textiles. I imagine finding this type of artwork tucked away in an elegant farmhouse attic, a mesh of mother’s kitchen knickknacks and father’s old hunting trophies. There’s something familiar about these images, yet they remain wacky and unexpected. … read more