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Axios Salt Lake City
Business owners protest request to rezone Utah swap meet
Business owners are urging the West Valley City planning commission to recommend against a rezoning petition for the site of a long-running swap meet and drive-in theater.State of play: Utah-based EDGEhomes filed a request in May to rezone 3688 South Redwood Road from commercial to residential to develop 308 condominiums, townhomes and single-family lots.Why it matters: The West Valley market has served as a small-business incubator and a cultural hub for working-class immigrants and Latino communities for decades.What they're saying: "It's not just a center for business," Beto Conejo, a 25-year-old business owner and artist who has been assisting in...
Father's Day gift ideas for Salt Lake dads
If you're still looking for a last-minute gift to celebrate the father figures in your life, we've got you covered.For foodies: Caputo's subscription boxes bring a collection of fantastic treats with preparation ideas every other month. My family is always excited to get ours.Or you can get one of their many individual gift boxes.For music lovers: Pop by Randy's Records, tell the staff what your dad likes and see what treasures they unearth.For sports fans: Take him out to the ballgame one last time at Smith's Ballpark with Bees tickets before the team moves to South Jordan.Does he want in...
A trip to the 1920s in Salt Lake City
Distillery tours are always fun, but Holystone in Murray brings an unexpected flair: It commits to its 1920s theming, with art deco stylings and jazz music mingled with the industrial stills.Why it works: Holystone has been bathed in accolades for its gin — a spirit that exudes Prohibition-era fun.Zoom in: The Bosun's Navy Strength Gin has both the alcohol content and citrus notes to hold up in the classic gin cocktails.Meanwhile, the indigo-colored Cerulea Gin brings the flower power, with lavender notes that really sing in a Bee's Knees.Special treat: Save the lemon for last, and watch it "magically" turn the gin from blue to pink.What's inside: The tour ends in the opulent tasting room above the distilling floor, with antique furniture, tasseled curtains, jacquard wallpaper and more jazz.The snack pairings are especially fun.Worth your time: Holystone's Instagram curates some of the most elaborate cocktail recipes we've seen in Utah.Sign up for Axios Salt Lake City for free.
Utah gets an H Mart
Utah's Asian food boom got louder Friday with the arrival of the popular H Mart Korean-American grocery chain.Why it matters: H Mart is hugely popular nationwide, particularly in Asian American communities — one of Utah's fastest-growing demographic groups.Salt Lake City's Asian population grew 135% from 2000 to 2022, according to an Axios analysis of census data.Driving the news: The chain's first Utah location opened at 1442 W. 9000 South in West Jordan.What's inside: The store is immense, with aisle after aisle of produce, sauces, frozen dinners, snacks, gifts, noodles, drink boxes and one of the biggest seafood departments in the...
Curtis, Cox lead in polls ahead of June 25 primary elections
With primary elections nearing, U.S. Rep John Curtis and Gov. Spencer Cox are leading in the polls, according to a pair of new surveys.Why it matters: The polling results are a snapshot into Utah voters' preferences for more moderate Republicans in a deep red state that's demonstrated low enthusiasm for former President Trump.How it works: Both polls were conducted by HarrisX for the Deseret News and the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics between June 4-7.The U.S. Senate poll surveyed 469 registered Republican voters, while the gubernatorial poll surveyed 477 registered voters.By the numbers: Curtis, who has been in...
Salt Lake City's unaccompanied migrant children
Data: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via N.Y. Times; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosMore than 400 unaccompanied migrant children arrived in Salt Lake City between 2015 and 2023.State of play: It's a small fraction of the more than 550,000 unaccompanied migrant children who arrived in the U.S. during that period.That's based on U.S. Department of Human Health and Services data on migrant children sponsors' ZIP codes obtained by the New York Times.Why it matters: Unaccompanied migrant children are an especially vulnerable group as federal, state and city leaders spar over sheltering and supporting foreigners who have crossed the border without...
The one modesty fight Utah skipped
In a state now known for modesty hang-ups, the Great Salt Lake's swimming culture in the early 1900s was less pearl-clutching than a lot of coastal cities. This is Old News, our weekly strut across the sands of time. The big picture: Hand-wringing about swimwear was already underway by the late 1800s on the East Coast, where rich New Yorkers developed a beach culture at Newport, Rhode Island. Yes, but: In Utah, bathing suits were still considered so clunky that even swimsuit ads acknowledged that no one looks good at the beach.Even young girls, normally policed, were gently encouraged to...
Disputes surround new Mormon temples around the West
A Texas city council is telling the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to design a smaller temple after planning officials voted against the towering structure.Why it matters: As the church ramps up temple construction worldwide, disputes over the buildings' heights, light pollution and traffic congestion have erupted around the nation.Driving the news: The Fairview Town Council, on the outskirts of Dallas, delayed a vote Tuesday that could override the planning and zoning commission's rejection last month of the church's plan for a 173-foot building in the town of 11,000.The normal building height limit is 35 feet in the...
Zion National Park to ban RVs from scenic highway
Starting next summer, Zion National Park will no longer allow RVs or large vehicles on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. Why it matters: The new guidelines aim to reduce collisions, lane-crossing and overweight vehicles on bridges, per the National Park Service.The iconic highway, built in the 1920s and 1930s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By the numbers: Vehicles over 11 feet, 4 inches tall that are more than 7 feet and 10 inches wide and 35 feet and 9 inches long — or exceed 50,000 pounds — will have to take alternate routes.What they're saying: "Our goal is to protect drivers, meet modern safety standards and ensure the integrity of the road and tunnels so that we continue to enjoy scenic drives on the historic Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway," the park's superintendent, Jeff Bradybaugh, said in a statement.Sign up for Axios Salt Lake City for free.
D-Day anniversary: Why it's called "Utah Beach"
Thursday marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when the Allied forces landed at Normandy, France in the biggest sea-to-land invasion in military history.Why it matters: The D-Day invasions began the liberation of France and the rest of western Europe, laying the groundwork for the Allied victory in World War II.Zoom in: One of the key landing sites became known as Utah Beach — apparently a random selection, according to a 1994 AP historical report.The intrigue: The name wasn't the U.S. Navy's first choice because it sounded too much like "Omaha" on radios.The original code name was "Oregon," but the Army personnel...
Athletes with Utah ties qualify to compete in 2024 Summer Games
The 2024 Summer Olympics are fast approaching, and several athletes with Utah ties are qualified to compete for the U.S.Why it matters: Utah will get a chance to showcase its athletic talent on the global stage, especially as the state's capital city is more than likely to be the host of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games.Between the lines: There's still a slew of Olympic trials this month that could add more former or current Utahns.Here are the athletes who have earned their spot so far:🏀 BasketballJimmer Fredette, a former BYU basketball star, will join the USA men's 3x3 basketball team.🚵...
County clerks in Utah begin sending out mail ballots
County clerks across the state have begun sending out mail-in ballots for the June 25 primary elections.State of play: This year's high-profile GOP primaries feature races for Utah governor, attorney general, U.S. Senate and Congress.First-term Gov. Spencer Cox will compete against state Rep. Phil Lyman (R-Blanding).In the U.S. Senate primary, a crowded field of Republicans — U.S. Rep. John Curtis, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, businessman Jason Walton and former House Speaker Brad Wilson — are vying to replace Sen. Mitt Romney.Candidates Derek Brown, Frank Mylar and Rachel Terry are running to succeed attorney general Sean Reyes, who announced he would not...
Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar is coming to Salt Lake City
Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar announced Tuesday it will perform in Salt Lake City at the Union Event Center as part of its Summer Vacation Tour 2024.Why it matters: Bassist Reeves has rapidly ascended the Dolly Parton Scale of universal likability for American celebrities.Catch up quick: It's a revival of the group Reeves co-founded in 1991, which toured with Bon Jovi and opened for David Bowie before breaking up in 2002, Blabbermouth reports.Zoom out: The North America tour includes more than two dozen stops with music from the group's latest album, "Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees" — its first in 23 years.What's next: Limited ticket presales begin 10am Wednesday, with local presale starting 10am Thursday. General ticket sales open 10am Friday. VIP packages, including a meet-and-greet, will also be available, per a news release.Sign up for Axios Salt Lake City for free.
Learn from the pros at this rum tasting class at Caputo's
🏴☠️ I'm a huge fan of rum (Arrrr!), so for Mother's Day my fam signed me up for a rum blending and food pairing class at Caputo's. Turns out there are lots of chances to learn mixology and refine your palate.Zoom in: We learned about the distillation techniques and flavors developed in various islands from Mikey Edwards, who is behind the experimental tiki pop-ups at the former Campfire Lounge location in Sugar House.The intrigue: The food pairings are what really drive home the distinctions — and Caputo's manager Dax Chelius meticulously chooses chocolates, cheeses, cured meats and tinned fish to bring out the unique flavors.For example, the dill and fennel of Fangst blue mussels draw out the grassy, savory taste of fresh cane used in Neisson Agricole Blanc rum from Martinique.The good news: Caputo's offers multiple pairing and tasting classes each week, from rosés to "Tour of Spain" to cheese and chocolate.I've already signed up for mocktail night next month!Zoom out: There are tons of cocktail classes around town.Check out Cocktail Collective, Bitters Lab and Sip + Vibe for more options.
Downtown Salt Lake City welcomes new state liquor store
Downtown Salt Lake City is now home to the state's new flagship liquor store.Why it matters: The highly anticipated store is centrally located at 151 E. 300 South and comes as downtown sees a construction boom of apartments and new residents moving into the neighborhood.State of play: The store replaces a previous location on 205 West and 400 South. At 14,500 square feet, it doubles the product capacity of the former location.Zoom in: The store, which opened Monday, will also allow easier access to hospitality workers to pick up products for their business.There are about 281 establishments downtown that are...
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