On May 27, Salt Lake City lost one of its favorite sons. Jeff Vice was somebody that everyone in town knew—he couldn’t walk into any bar or coffee shop without seeing a friend or being recognized by a fan with whom he would instantly interact, as if they were already friends. He gave everyone his attention and was always ready to talk movies, music and comics expertly and passionately. … read more
Since the summer of 2012, the Bad Kids Collective has shaken up Salt Lake’s drag scene, made connections with the global genderfuck community and established a home for queer artists at Metro Bar. Now, at “terrible” 2 years old, SLUG catches up with founding braintrust Cartel Chameleon Fenicé and performers Jezebel Jet and The Bearded Femme about where they’ve been, where they’re headed and why their approach to gender-integrated performance art is a vital force in queer Utah. … read more
When the Jade Cafe, a Chinese-American restaurant built in 1956, became available, Brandt saw the opportunity to reinvent Sage’s Cafe and become an important part of an up-and-coming area of Salt Lake. Reopening in early 2014 with a fantastic menu update, Brandt has certainly increased the restaurant’s appeal. The new location has plenty of parking (and is just a short walk from Trax), lots of kitchen space and ample seating. And here are the best parts: an updated menu boasting delectable small plates, an impressive vegan wine list and a full bar. A vegan restaurant with a full bar? Yes, please. … read more
I’ve always hurt for that olde-worldy town pub feel in Utah—dimly lit and warm, complete with woodworked furnishings that welcome all walks of life to casually learn about the nearby company—where I can drink something from a house keg and enjoy the finest classic beer food known to man. The ascending Avenues have bolstered Avenues Proper, letting in some natural light, but the concept of a laidback place to sit back and watch the world spin is starting to carry itself out of the Berger Straße and onto the Bonneville benches. … read more
Happy Blame Someone Else Day, June 13! … read more
Colt Bowden is always on the lookout for interesting spots. I met up with this former Utah local last month, and he took me down a drainage ditch near his house to this crazy transition. I think it’s a requisite that his spots are hard to skate. … read more
Portland’s Bastard Feast, formerly Elitist, have opened a lot of doors for themselves in the year and a half of their existence. Their debut record as Bastard Feast, Osculum Infame, drops on July 22, and if you’re into heavy, aggressive, hateful metal, you should not only pick up the album when it’s released, but trudge down to The Shred Shed on Monday, July 7, to be sonically abused in the best possible way. … read more
Hey guys, this is my last Beautiful Godzilla column. I’m moving to New York City to dedicate my life to pizza. … read more
Social media has become a huge part of most of our lives. Being a “Beer Gnerd,” I’ve enjoyed getting the opportunity to simply connect and interact with people of like mind through quite a few beer apps out there, designed specifically for the craft beer enthusiast. Many do the same thing—allow the users to share their thoughts on what they’re drinking and where. I’ve highlighted a few beer geek apps to help you stay more easily connected while looking for and enjoying your favorite glass of suds. … read more
Salt Lake City’s next generation of Sk801 rippers is here, seeking out all of the tracked and untracked territory that this city has to offer, and Christian Bourne is one of them. A mellow dude off his skateboard and an absolute animal on one (kid straight-up broke a handrail on a back lip attempt), Bourne and I found some time to chat at Fairmont Park while we watched the rest of his crew tear up the park. … read more
On July 11, emo noise-rockers Lydians will open a show at Urban Lounge featuring a few flavors of ‘90s alternative and punk. Rockers (and loafers) Chalk will be there, sharing some nod-worthy grooves before MoneyPenny (hopefully) gets naked and plays some punk songs. This show is 21+ and sponsored by the beer peddlers at New Belgium, the artists at Spilt Ink and the masters of radio at KRCL 90.9 FM. … read more
It’s another beer issue, and I have been granted the opportunity to gripe to you readers about some bullshit that is happening within the craft brewing industry that makes me livid: trademarks and bitchy brewers! With over 2,400 active craft breweries operating in the US and another 1,000-plus in the midst of planning and opening, there is bound to be some crossover with brand names and labels. The repercussions of these name changes that fall on the brewery can result in thousands to tens of thousands of dollars spent in re-labeling, product waste, signage reproduction and graphic alterations. … read more
