What's new around town.
by Pax Rasmussen
New band: Swagger
On Saturday April 21st, a large crowd gathered at Piper Down (1492 S. State St.) for the club's 4th Anniversary. Owner Dave Morris had booked the recently formed Swagger, a group of local musicians fronted by California newcomer Rick Butler. Swagger plays a mix of traditional pub songs with an American style Rock beat, and some originals.
It worked. The crowd stood on their feet shouting the words, & jumping up and down to the infectious music. By the end of the evening most everyone in the pub that night looked like they had been playing in a Rugby match.
Swagger is: Rick Butler-mandolin, guitars & lead vocals; Dennis Harrington–fiddle, keyboards & vocals; Mark Mottonen-drums & percussion; Sam Cottrell-guitars & vocals; Stephan Wallace-bass & vocals.
May 11, J B Mulligans Club & Pub, P.C.; May 17 Piper Down, 1492 S. State, SLC.
Look for club schedules on their website www.swaggertheband.com
Chain stores to be excluded from unique neighborhoods?
Salt Lake City Council last month passed a resolution submitted by Council member Jill Remington Love requesting the city develop a "formula-free business" commercial zoning classification that would apply to some of the smaller, more distinctive, neighborhoods within the city. Besides limitations on size and scale, these restrictions would exclude businesses that are "required by contract to adopt standardized services, methods of operation, décor, uniforms and arcitecture…signage or other features virtually identical to businesses located in other communities nationwide."
Love says she has had only positive feedback on the idea from the City Council and small business groups.
Gavin Noyes, executive director for Buy Local First Utah, a local nonprofit that promotes locally owned business, says, "Hooray to the SLC Council for unanimously recognizing the invaluable role local businesses play in defining community character, strengthening the local economy and contributing a real sense of place and source of pride in the places we live."
Currently, the draft is with the Planning Commission and will return to the City Council for a final vote before it becomes city ordinance code. Love expects the process to take about six months.
CATALYST fully supports this initiative. But we probably didn't have to tell you that.
www.slcgov.com/council,
www.localfirst.org.
Energy Arts adds Birth Transitions
Kathleen Haws, an associate of Energy Arts, LLC, has become a certified teacher of DreamWalking Birth Transitions. This program is a new form of spiritual midwifery that works with expectant parents to develop a deeper and more spiritual connection with their baby long before birth. She will offer classes beginning this summer.
718-7335, www.newenergyarts.com.
New Prenatal Massage
Angela Rhinehart, Monica Faux-Kota, Shannon Clay-Gillette and Karen Salas have teamed up to create Utah Prenatal Massage, providing massage treatment for women in normal and high-risk pregnancies, birthing and recovery. Utah Prenatal Massage offers free consultations and demonstrations as part of their education outreach program.
www.utahprenatalmassage.com, Angela Rhinehart, LMT 532-6939, Monica Faux-Kota, LMT 688-8962, Shannon Clay-Gillette 599-5081, Karen Salas 608-2273.
Cannon family opens third Massage Envy clinic
Massage Envy hopes to bring rest and relaxation to the masses with professional massages at affordable prices. Owners Robert, Craig and Paul Cannon, have added a new downtown Salt Lake City location to their Bountiful and Sugar House Massage Envy stores.
655 E 400 S, 433-5333, www.massageenvy.com.
Bayou now non-smoking
As of April 2, local club and restaurant The Bayou is a non-smoking establishment. Owners of The Bayou feel that taking this step is necessary and in accord with their long-term policy of health and environmental awareness. Club owner Mark Alston states that "when drinking a very nice bottle of Belgian beer, I don't want to have to figure out if the smokiness is a character in the beer or in the air." Employees benefit, too. Bayou manager and smoker Jacque Aaron points out, "While our patrons might only be exposed to the smoky environment for a few hours, we are in it all night long. This change will definitely make for a much nicer workplace."
645 S State St, 961-8400, www.utahbayou.com
Bill Moyers returns
Bill Moyers returns to KUED with a new public affairs series, Bill Moyers' Journal, airing Friday nights at 9 p.m. Moyers departed PBS's regular schedule in December of 2004 when he left Now.
www.kued.org
Psychic transplant from Portland
Alyse Finlayson recently relocated her psychic practice from Portland, Oregon to Park City. Finlayson is an artist, shamanic healer and psychic who specializes in communication with angels, guides and ancestors. She offers custom angel portraits, core wound healing and soul retrievals. Finlayson practiced for seven years through the New Renaissance Bookshop and her home studio in Portland.
435-640-6042, www.soulinterconnection.com.
48-Hr. Film Project came to SLC
On Friday, April 20, nearly 60 cities around the country participated in an ambitious project: make a film in just 48 hours. Here in Salt Lake City, over 30 teams signed up to compete in this unique contest. Over the next 48 hours, these teams scrambled about Salt Lake City to put together a film. Sunday evening, as the deadline approached, these teams gathered here at the CATALYST office, the drop-off point for the project. Beer and pizza: a good combination for the end of such an intense project.
Check out the website for a list of teams and the winners of the contest. www.48hourfilm.com/saltlakecity.
Call for actors
The 6th Annual Himlayan Performing Arts Festival is seeking actors and actresses for the festival, which will be held Saturday, June 2, at the Krishna Temple. Those interested should contact Caru Das.
801-787-1510, 8628 S Main St, Spanish Fork, www.utahkrishnas.com.
One World opens thrift store
One World Everybody Eats Foundation has opened its Treasure Box Thrift downstairs at the same location as One World Community Kitchen (previously One World Cafe). They are accepting donations of furniture, clothes, shoes, kitchenware, art, antiques, fabric and restaurant equipment. All proceeds go toward opening other community kitchens. The store is open every day from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
41 S 300 E, 519-2002, www.oneworldeverybodyeats.com.