What’s new around town.
—by Sophie Silverstone and Katherine Pioli
Honoring the aspen
For the first time since 1933, the Colorado blue spruce is no longer Utah’s state tree. Thanks to new legislation proposed by fourth-graders from Monroe Elementary and passed last month, the quaking aspen now holds that honored distinction.
You are doubtlessly familiar with the Populus tremuloides, but to celebrate the tree’s new status here are some things to learn about aspen:
Quaking aspen grow in just about any and every vegetative ecosystem found in Utah: on moist uplands, dry mountainsides, high plateaus, mesas, avalanche chutes, foothills and along watercourses. They reproduce by root-sprouting so that a single grove of aspen often comes from the same underground root system, thus making each individual tree a genetically identical clone of the others around it.
Aspen are dependent on fire, clear-cutting and other disturbance for healthy and natural regeneration. The absence of such disturbance is one of the likely leading causes of aspen decline including the slow disappearance of Utah’s Pando, an aspen grove in the Fishlake National Forest and the world’s oldest known living organism and also one of the largest single living organisms on the planet.
In pioneer days, aspen were used for fence poles, buildings and firewood. The bark of aspen trees was used by Native Americans and pioneers as a fever remedy and to avoid scurvy. For both domesticated and wild animals, the tree’s bark and seeds provide excellent forage. And in the spring months, deer often use quaking aspen stands for fawning grounds.
Salt Lake Wellness Center
Frisch moves
Frisch, the compassionate eatery that in 2012 opened in the space formerly occupied by Rico (779 South 500 E), has moved locations. Now the vegan lunch and catering establishment is serving its technicolor tempeh kale salad and other specialties near House of Tibet, another popular eatery.
145 East 1300 South, Ste. 201. 801-906-8277. www.frischeats.com
Healing Pathways Therapy Center
After graduating from BYU, therapist Kristan Warnick, CMHC, spent 13 years working as a school psychologist in Alaska and Utah. In 2010 she started a private practice and last summer she opened Healing Pathways Therapy Center in Salt Lake City. Staffed with four counselors and a physician assistant, the center offers therapy and counseling addressing issues of anxiety, trauma, grief conflict resolution and career issues and specializing in post-traumatic stress and relationship problems.
801-867-8112, 1174 E. Graystone Way, Ste. 8 info@pathwaysutah.com
Yolo Pilates opens on Foothill
Growing up in Utah, Lindsey Mattison took to the slopes, skiing, hiking and climbing her way through the mountains until personal injuries slowed her active lifestyle. Lindsey turned to Pilates to help with her recovery and was so impressed with the results that in 2005 she became a certified Pilates instructor.
Now Lindsey has her own studio where she offers beginner classes for people working through injuries, one-on-one private sessions, and level one and two group classes for body fitness workouts. Information on prices and class times are online.
801-555-9659, 1605 Foothill Dr., yolopilates.com
Meet Kristian Anderson, UMOCA’s new executive director
The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly known as Utah Art Center) finally got its new executive director in February. Kristian Anderson comes to the job with an impressive resumé including running contemporary art spaces at the University of Washington and University of Colorado and, most recently, serving as director of the national advocacy and education organization the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries.
Even while working on the national scene, Anderson says that UMOCA caught his attention. Impressed by the museum’s exceptional art, innovative programming and involvement in the community, he says he will continue supporting and encouraging the good work already taking place. In addition to exhibits, ongoing events include Family Art Saturdays, First Fridays, Art Truck, an Artist-in-Residence program and a locals-only gallery.
20 S.West Temple. 11a-6p (till 9 on Fridays). Closed Sun., Mon. and holidays. 801.328.4201. Utahmoca.org
H2O Vitality moves
H2O Vitality, which sells ionized alkaline purified drinking water and micro-current water therapy treatment, has changed locations. Their new digs are located inside Dave’s Health and Nutrition in Salt Lake City (which also recently moved to a larger location).
800 East 3900, S h2ovitality.net
We love, we give: Utah!
The Community Foundation of Utah’s Love Utah Give Utah one-day nonprofit donations day encourages all Utah residents to give what they can to their favorite organizations. This year’s fund drive on March 20 raised over $1 million from over 10,000 unique donors. Top recipients included in the small nonprofits category: Utah FACES, Plan-B Theater Company and Nobel Horse Company. For medium nonprofits: the Sharing Place, Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah and Wasatch Community Gardens. For large nonprofits: Girl Scouts of Utah, Humane Society of Utah and Turn Community Services. For schools: Salt Lake Arts Academy, Ogden School Foundation and Westminster College.
Hundreds of nonprofits participated in the fundraising event. Many may be familiar to CATALYST readers, and some not. Learn more about the organizations who work hard to make our community a better place by going to the Love Utah Give Utah website, where every nonprofit links to a short bio. And remember, just because the drive is over, doesn’t mean you can’t still donate.
Loveutgiveut.razoo.com
April 18 deadline: The Bike Stops Here
In a continuing effort the revitalize downtown through public artworks and environmentally conscious city planning, Salt Lake is announcing The Bike Stops Here, an art competition for beautifully designed bike racks. Racks should be striking and imaginative and may include pro-environmental messages, as long as they are functional and identifiable as bike racks.
Proposals will be considered only from Utah artists. Applications are due Friday, April 18. Ten winning artists/teams will receive a $3,000 budget for the final project.
For a full list of design criteria, project requirements, safety guidelines and submission requirements, go to slcgov.com/arts
Gardeners and brewers: Hops are here!
By early April the Beer Nut, Salt Lake’s premier beer brewing supplies shop, will have received their annual spring order of hop rhizomes available for sale, first come first serve till they sell out. This year the varietals include: cascade, centennial, Chinook, Columbus, glacier, golding, Mt. Hood, northern brewer, nugget, sterling, tettnang, Willamette, NEO 1, and amalia.
Like with strawberry or asparagus starts, hop rhizomes are bare roots that prefer to be planted in the spring while temperatures are still a little cold. They also like to be planted with a buddy, so plan on getting more than one if you want a healthy hop harvest.
Beer Nut, 1200 S. State. Mon.-Sat. 10a-6:30p. Sun 10a-5p. 801.531.8182. www.BeerNut.com
Rolfer Paul Wirth moves to East Coast
Paul Wirth, of Mosaic Bodyworks is moving to Manhattan this month. He will continue his Rolfing practice (a type of bodywork) in New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. Wirth moved to Salt Lake in 2003 from Boston, and is happy to be going back to the East coast where most of his family still lives.
Goodbye, Paul, it was good to know you!
Golden Braid featuring Hand in Hand products
Golden Braid is now proudly selling Hand in Hand Products; fair trade USA soaps, candles and bath salts. For every bar of soap you buy, Hand in Hand gives a bar of soap to those in need around the world, helping to reduce the number of deaths caused by poor water quality and lack of proper hygiene. Hand in Hand co-founders Bill and Courtney also recently built a well in Haiti. Their goal is to donate one month of clean water to one person for every Hand in Hand product purchased.
Golden Braid, 151 S. 500 E. 801.322.1162. GoldenBraidBooks.com, handinhandsoap.com
Little things add up: Helping Nepali orphans
Dancing Cranes imports is selling jute bags, from which 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Aama Orphanage Education Foundation. This foundation helps orphaned children in Khandbari, Nepal. Be a part of that effort to help orphans, and also sport a handy Dancing Cranes tote, all for $9.
Dancing Cranes, 673 E. Simpson Ave. (2240 S.) Open daily. DancingCranesImports.com
Volunteers needed: Living Traditions Festival
Volunteers will help with the children’s area, beverage booth, crafts area, maintenance, set-up/take-down, and more from Wednesday, May 14 through Monday, May 19. Shifts vary from two and a half to four hours
801-596-5000. Online application: livingtraditionsfestival.com
Buildingman Festival
A venue for sustainable living and building workshops, daily yoga classes, healing art classes, crafting activities, kids’ activities, performances, a family potluck, and music comprises the fifth annual event on the Jenkstar Ranch, in Green River.
The Jenkstars aim to be leaders in environmentalism, social consciousness and friendliness. They are launching a non-profit with a few members of the Green River community called Green Center for Art and Sustainable Living, to bring awareness to local environmental issues such as the tar sands project and fracking. To raise funds for the non-profit, they are launching an online video campaign and holding a silent art auction in Salt Lake City this spring.
Tickets and more information: jenkstars.com
Entheogens in the news
Those of you who have been following CATALYST’s coverage of a federally funded study re. the treatment of PTSD with MDMA will be interested to know that on March 4, the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease published online the results of a study of LSD-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety in subjects with advanced-stage illness, the first study of the therapeutic use of LSD in over 40 years.
That same day, The New York Times explained how results like these are helping bring psychedelic research “back into the fold of mainstream psychiatry.”
Cannabis is big news in many ways these days, of course. Last month Comcast began airing the first ever medical marijuana television commercial on a “major” network. The networks airing the commercial include: A&E, FOX, CNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, Discovery, ESPN, FX, Food Network, HGTV, History and a few more.
Fly school looking for place to land
Kristen Ulmer, Rebecca Sam Ponder, Nick Glomb and a few others are starting a flying trapeze school here in Salt City and they need a space to set up the rig. If anyone has leads to outdoor (or indoor) space that is commercially zoned, has good visibility, i.e. can be seen from the street, is at least 20 feet wide by 150 feet long (and, if indoors, has 40-ft. ceilings), contact Kristen. They would like to start setting up mid-May and, if outdoors, will go to about Oct. 31.
Salt Lake Flying Trapeze School. Kristen Ulmer, DigsUtah@gmail.com
Caffe Niche joins LaSalle Group
Oasis Café, longtime stronghold for fine and healthy dining, acquired a quiet sibling last year when its owner, the La Salle Group (which also founded and owns Faustina on Broadway some years ago) acquired Kyoto on 13th S. 1300 East.
More recently, Ethan Lappé and his Caffe Niche joined the LaSalle Group. Ethan will serve as a partner in the business. “Niche’s menus will continue under the direction of Ethan, his close support of local farms and ranches continues and the staff remain the same with little change foreseen in the immediate future,” says Joel La Salle.
Caffe Niche has been a neighborhood staple for over five years, with an emphasis on supporting local farms, ranchers and food purveyors.
Ethan Lappé comes from a venerable tradition of conscious food preparation: His aunt is Frances Moore Lappé, whose Diet for a Small Planet (1971) changed the way people looked at world hunger.
Caffe Niche, 779 E. Broadway. 801.433.3380.
CaffeNiche.com