MollysNipple.com: an outdoor magazine for adventurous women
Our assistant editor, Katherine Pioli, has started her own online publication that spotlights women in outdoor sports in Utah and the West. She digs into local environmental issues, spotlights women athletes, and overall celebrates our experience of the natural world from a personal perspective.
Having grown up in Utah, Pioli is an avid outdoor enthusiast, marathoner, bicyclist, skier, trail runner and urban homesteader with her husband, Ben Bombard. All of these experiences enrich the information she shares with us, both here at CATALYST and now also at MollysNipple.com. (The online publication gets its name from the actual cartographic names of seven geographic landmarks in Utah.)
Pioli has been writing for CATALYST since she interned with us in 2008, with summers off to work as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service until last year. She also teaches at the Salt Lake Arts Academy.
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MollysNipple.com
University panel displays energy savings
Last summer the University of Utah Marriott Library became the seventh building on campus to receive solar panels.
Last month a new student-formulated awareness project was unveiled. Grad student Tom Melburn came up with an “electronic dashboard” to provide a daily reminder of the process taking place out in the sun by displaying real-time information about the solar array’s energy output. The board also converts the energy output data into understandable terms, showing just how many barrels of oil the panel-produced energy is replacing.
The library’s system of 37.8 kilowatts (126 300-watt panels grouped into six arrays) provides enough energy to power five to eight houses for a year—still a small fraction of the electricity needed to power the well-lit library. But the electronic dashboard goes a long way toward making solar understandable, and maybe inspiring the next generation of students to take it to the next level.
Find a parking place, report a pothole
A free mobile app has been designed as a convenient way to help Salt Lakers report non-emergency civic issues directly to the city government—quality of life and environmental issues such as potholes, burned-out streetlights or city pipe leaks. You can snap a picture of the situation you’re reporting and track your service request from your smart phone.
Created by the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, SLC Mobile uses CitySourced GPS technology to locate your requests. Other features include interactive mountain bike and walking trail maps, bike share and City parks locator, downtown parking and electric vehicle charging stations locator, a calendar of events powered by Visit Salt Lake, public utilities bill payment, and even current job listings.
Search ‘SLC Mobile’ on any smart phone app store.
Atlantic Café: license to celebrate
Just in time for patio dining season, Main St.’s Atlantic Café finally got a beer and wine license.
Senad Karajic acquired the restaurant last August. Originally from Bosnia, he came to Utah from Chicago. Although ownership has changed many hands over the years, Atlantic Café still serves authentic and delicious Mediterranean food with loyal celebrity clientele including retired Utah Jazz player Mehmet Okur, who is Turkish. Sounds of Balkan languages among the staff and guests echo through the restaurant, making you feel as if you weren’t in Utah for a second, save the silly Utah liquor laws and licensing headaches.
Karajic is excited about a new tapas menu he’ll be serving between lunch and dinner: small plates such as ceviche and quesadillas to go with selections from the new bar menu including Chianti, Reisling and even good old Modelo.
Senad Karajic will host a special celebration of his newly acquired license April 4. Details to follow online.
Downtown’s Taqueria 27
Taqueria 27 opened a sleek new downtown location directly west of Beer Bar and Bar X in March, offering patio dining as well as later kitchen hours than their Holladay and Foothill locations.
Owners Kristin and Todd Gardiner have been taking tacos to another level at Taqueria 27 for three years now. Todd, who is also the chef, got his culinary start in fine dining. “You can put all sorts of fun stuff in a tortilla. All [our] food is just fine dining in a tortilla.” Can you imagine a taco of ground bison, grilled pears & roasted beets, or a slowcooked ribeye over roasted corn and garlic mashed potatoes?
Besides the new location, they’ve added more gluten-free options, and will bring in some new tequilas and mezcal to the cocktail menu.
Tacqueria 27, 149 E. 200 South. Open till 10pm, and till midnight on weekends. www.Taqueria27.com
Kathleen Bratcher, LMT, retires
Kathleen Bratcher, owner/proprietor of fun & frolic consignment shop in Sugar House, is also a professional massage therapist. In addition to her many specialties, she received her Traditional Usui Reiki Master level in 2003. But after 22 years, Bratcher is retiring her massage practice.
Bratcher worked on community leaders, local business owners and touring musicians. She taught in the professional development program at Utah College of Massage Therapy from 2000-2005, where she was the keynote speaker at two student convocations. She has made many friends during her career and will miss the massage profession.
Former clients can still visit her at Fun & Frolic, 2066 So. 2100 East. www.myfunandfrolic.com
48-Hour Film Project registration begins April 7
Filmmakers from all over the state will have 48 hours, the weekend of June 12-14, to create the best short film. The event kicks off at Broadway Center Cinemas Friday, June 12. The winning film will compete against films from around the world for the title of the “Best 48-Hour Film of 2015.”
Early bird registration, April 7-May 18, is $140. Visit 48hourfilm.com for more information and to see previous year’s submissions.
We love saying “hybrid perovskite photovotaic cells” (and they lower solar costs)
Another solar breakthrough came last month from the University of Utah. Researchers from the University, along with collaborators from the University of Texas at Dallas, published findings in the journal Nature Physics about their work with hybrid perovskite solar cells. While we don’t clearly understand even the dumbed-down scientific speak in the press release (“applying a magnetic field makes it possible to glean clues about the behavior of electrons and ‘holes’ in semiconductor compounds…”), what we can gather is that these developments may lead to lower-cost solar panels in the near future.
The hybrid perovskite photovoltaic cells, while still less efficient than regular silicon cells at converting sunlight (20% vs. 26%), can be produced at “a fraction of the cost.” This research opens the doors to greater efficiency for these less inexpensive solar cells.
Real food on U of U campus
The University of Utah recently became the largest school in the country, and the first in the Pac-12, to commit at least 20% of its food-purchasing budget to “real” food by 2020—up from its current rate of 11%.
The nationally organized Real Food Campus Commitment is a boon for those wanting healthier, more sustainable options on college campuses. The plan is to shift $1 billion of existing college food budgets away from industrial farms to a more community-based, ecologically sound model.
U of U staff and students are working together to make this a reality, including Amy Wildermuth, chief sustainability officer; Reggie Conerly, Dining Services director; Kathleen Hunt, Dining Services sustainability coordinator and doctoral candidate; student (and now president of the Real Food student group) Will Schott, who organized the challenge last year; Adrienne Cachelin, Sustainability Education director; and Erin Olschewski, sustainability ambassador with the Sustainability Resource Center and vice president of the Real Food Challenge. “This commitment is just the first step in what will be an ongoing evolution of student-led movements for sustainable changes,” says Olschewski. We like the sound of that!
Found a bird?
In the season of baby birds, some invariably fall from nests where we see them and wonder what to do. A chart from Healers of the Wild, by Shannon K. Jacobs, can be found on the Tracy Aviary website that helps you figure out your best option.
A few scenarios: If the bird has no feathers and you can find the nest, put the bird back in the next. If it has feathers and is in an area safe from pets and people, leave the area; a baby’s best chance for survival is its mother. However, if you are the bird’s last resort, the chart tells you how to best nurture the baby.
Due to the sensitive quarantining of exhibit birds, Tracy Aviary cannot accept any wild birds, injured or otherwise.
If the bird is injured: Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah, 801.814.7888.
http://www.tracyaviary.org/found-a-bird/
Local First is hiring
Local First, the champion of local, independently owned businesses, has part time employment, internships and freelance opportunities available for talented, committed lovers of the the “local first” movement. They are looking for an operations manager to assist with web admin, customer service and general office management; a community relations coordinator; and a freelance graphic designer for ongoing needs and special projects.
If you are interested in any of these positions, submit a resume, cover letter and design portfolio (if applicable) to Kristen@localfirst.org. LocalFirst.org.
Hub & Spoke Diner opens at former Finca site
Hub & Spoke Diner has opened in the lively, comfortable space that Finca recently vacated in Salt Lake City. Scott Evans, owner of Finca, Pago and East Liberty Tap House, explains that he envisions Hub & Spoke as a neighborhood restaurant with “a unique take on the all-day diner with a casual, but modern interpretation.”
Hub & Spoke features an affordable, whole-family menu that reinvigorates comfort food with global influences and local, completely fresh ingredients. You can order classics like Caesar Salad, Chicken Pot Pie and shakes. Or travel a bit with Tonkatsu, Chilequiles or a Breakfast Bahn Mi sandwich. Pastries baked from scratch and breakfast—pecan waffles, shrimp and grits, pound cake French toast (with lemon curd and blueberry maple syrup—yikes)—are served all day.
Hub & Spoke Diner. Open Monday-Sunday 7am-9pm. Beer, wine, spirits and boozy shakes available. 1291 So. 1100 East. 801.487.0698 www.HubAndSpokeDiner.com
Helping Utah meet EPA regs: Gas can exchange April 11
Gas cans aren’t what they used to be. A pre-2009 gas-filled can is a source of smog-forming pollution, according to the Utah Clean Air Coalition (UCAIR). It releases vapors through the walls, and allows gas to evaporate through inadequately capped spouts. Not cool. But easily remedied.
UCAIR, with Chevron, is holding a gas can exchange on April 11. Bring in your old can and go home with an environmentally friendly can of the same size—for free!
The snazzy new 2.5- or 5-gal. No-Spill® gas cans feature “professional-quality push-button pour control… Simply hold down the button for smooth, uninterrupted fuel flow at an exceptionally fast rate.The flow automatically stops when the target tank is full – no overfilling.” This program is the first of its kind in Utah and helps our state come into compliance with the new EPA air standard. These gas cans normally cost around $35. Can’t make it to the exchange? Next trip to the hardware store, buy yourself a new gas can.
The event will be held at the following locations from 9-3p. on April 11: Salt Lake City: Chevron, 2100 S. at 300 W. (just south of Costco and Underfoot Floors). Provo: 1200 Towne Center Blvd. Layton: Davis Landfill, 1997 E. 3500 N. Ogden: Chevron, 1855 Skyline Dr.
iPods for Shakespeare
Do you have an unused iPod lying around? Our beloved and renowned Utah Shakespeare Festival can put it to good use. They need iPod Touches, fifth generation or later, with any amount of memory.
They’re getting new scanners and software which will enable them to issue print-at-home tickets and scan them at the door.The scanner and software operate on the Apple iPod Touch.
If you can help, box up your iPod, include your name and address, and send to: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Attn: iPods for the Festival, 351 W. Center St., Cedar City, UT 84720
Reserve a park pavilion now!
Want to party in a park? Salt Lake City park pavilions may be reserved in these parks: Fairmont, Jordan, Liberty, Lindsey Gardens, Poplar Grove, Riverside, Sherwood, Sunnyside, Washington and Westpointe. Pavilions are available from Monday, April 13 through Sunday, October 11, 2015.
Pavilions in Salt Lake City cost $43 ($52 for non-residents). Half-day (8 a.m.-2 p.m. or 3 p.m.-10 p.m.) prices are available for Liberty Park and Washington Park (Parley’s Canyon) pavilions.
SLCgov.com/parks
Tea Zaanti yet another “quit your boring job” success story
“It started in Thailand,” says owner Brian Murphy, who had been working as an audit accountant when the idea hit him: Bring responsible tea to the community and promote peace on many different levels. Tea Zaanti started in 2009 as an online wholesale tea business, and last October celebrated the grand opening of its retail store and café in Salt Lake’s East Central neighborhood.
The clever “TeaZer wall” invites visitors to sniff all the varieties of tea available. There are pastries, a pleasant place to study or meet, and a display of local visual art, with weekly music and poetry soon.
Zaanti means “peace” in Thai. Murphy’s goal is to make the shop’s footprint as small as possible. He sources from small, responsible farmers, uses loose leaf tea, composts the tea leaves and decorates his shop with charming upcycled goods.
“I loved accounting, but auditing just didn’t feed my soul,” says Murphy. “I used to say, ‘I have to go to work today.’ Now I say, ‘I get to go to work today.’”
Tea Zaanti. 1324 So. 1100 East. Mon-Thu 10-7, Fri-Sat 10-5, Sun 10-3. Parking in back.
https://teazaanti.com/