Josh Petersen
- Digital Managing Editor, Salt Lake Magazine
- Student Media Manager and Advisor, The Daily Utah Chronicle
- Student Media Manager and Advisor, K-UTE Radio (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Student Media Manager and Advisor, Wasatch Magazine
Salt Lake City
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Articles by Josh Petersen
Dining Out: Salt Lake City's Best Noodles
Whether you’re slurping ramen noodles out or making pho from scratch at at home, a steaming bowl of pho or ramen offers a delicious way to combat winter’s chill.
Shortcut Homemade Pho Broth Recipe
Traditionally, pho is based on a broth made of long-simmered roasted beef bones, oxtails, browned onion and spices, or a lighter broth made with chicken bones. While nothing beats a homemade broth, you can make delicious pho by using a good-quality prepared unsalted stock and infusing it with aromatics followed by a 20-minute simmer. Homemade Pho Broth Ingredients 1 star anise ½-inch piece of cinnamon stick 6 whole cloves 4 slices fresh ginger 4 garlic gloves 1 onion, cut into chunks 1 Tbsp.
Season's Eatings: Local Gift Ideas for Foodies
I would wager that the average Utahn has a longer Christmas shopping list than pretty much any person in the country. From friends to neighbors to the 57 cousins in your Utah-sized extended family, it can get overwhelming fast. Not to pooh-pooh the spirit of giving, but nothing saps the fun out of the holidays like trying to find the perfect present for the ward Relief Society president or the coworker you only talk to on Zoom.
Paper Thin Decisions
The room held the smell of sweet cigars and expensive whiskey. With his eyes covered by a rag tied so tight it was currently giving him a headache, Neil Foster's sense of smell was heightened. "Do you know why you're here?" A voice asked, sounding like two stones being ground together. "To enjoy a good smoke and some drink?" Neil asked, hopeful, but knowing that wasn't the case. "Duncan, remove his blindfold please." There was some shuffling, then rough hands removed the cloth tied around his head.
Sushi Classes with Mint Sushi's Chef Soy
If you’re going to dinner at Mint Sushi, plan on venturing beyond the California Roll. OK, if you insist on the familiar, California rolls and other basics are still on the menu, but Mint Sushi, owned by sushi chef Batsaikhan Ariunbold (aka Chef Soy) rewards those willing to try something new. In fact, the restaurant’s specialty is not rolls at all—it’s an always-evolving menu of flavorful, unexpected seafood-forward tapas.
Season's Eatings: Gift Ideas for Foodies
I would wager that the average Utahn has a longer Christmas shopping list than pretty much any person in the country. From friends to neighbors to the 57 cousins in your Utah-sized extended family, it can get overwhelming fast. Not to pooh-pooh the spirit of giving, but nothing saps the fun out of the holidays like trying to find the perfect present for the ward Relief Society president or the coworker you only talk to on Zoom.
Pioneer Theatre Debuts 'Shucked' • Salt Lake Magazine
It’s corn! At Pioneer Theatre Company, a brand-new musical comedy follows a town surrounded in the “big lump with knobs” we all know and love. “Shucked is about a town that is surrounded [by corn,]” explains the score’s co-writer Brandy Clark.
Where to Get Pho and Ramen in Utah
As nights grow longer and temperatures drop, warm, hearty soups are the definition of comfort food. While there is always a place in our hearts for a classic, meat-and-potatoes-filled Irish stew, this fall we’re looking across the globe for something to warm our bellies. Both pho and ramen have evolved from regional street foods to global phenomena—it seems like every SLC neighborhood now has its own ramen bar or pho restaurant. Here’s a bit of history behind each dish and where to get it in Utah.
a Seasonal Toast from HSL
Briar Handly, the executive chef of Park City’s Handle and its downtown SLC sister restaurant HSL, may have plenty of accolades, including a nomination for the prestigious James Beard Award. His attitude toward the locally sourced meats, produce and more he features in his cooking, though, is humble, bordering on self-deprecating. “I try and not mess those ingredients up,” he says.
Pioneer Theatre Company ‘Scapin’ Preview • Salt Lake Magazine
For its first production of the 2022-23 season, Pioneer Theatre Company both embraces and bucks tradition with a new adaptation of Molière’s comedy Scapin. The play premieres just in time for the French playwright’s 400th birthday. Though the play is a classic, director and adapter Stephen Wrentmore has fully reimagined the play for 2022 audiences. Scapin follows two wealthy matriarchs, Arganta (Celeste Ciulla) and Geronta (Sofia Jean Gomez), seeking suitable brides for their sons.
Briar Handly of Handle Highlights Local Growers With a Seasonal Toast
Briar Handly, the executive chef of Park City’s Handle and its downtown SLC sister restaurant HSL, may have plenty of accolades, including a nomination for the prestigious James Beard Award. His attitude toward the locally sourced meats, produce and more he features in his cooking, though, is humble, bordering on self-deprecating. “I try and not mess those ingredients up,” he says.
Park City Song Summit Celebrates the Craft of Songwriting
From Sept. 7-10, musicians and fans will gather in the mountains of Park City for the 2022 Park City Song Summit. What exactly is the Park City Song Summit? It’s not quite right to call PCSS a music festival or a conference or an artists’ residency, though it has elements of all three. Founder Ben Anderson says his brainchild has been compared to South by Southwest, TED Talks and the musical equivalent of the Sundance Film Festival.
Dark Decisions
The corner market store was quiet in the late hours just before closing as Eugene Cole made his way to the back, toward the frozen food section. This would be the third, random, grocery store he'd visited this month. The third state he'd temporarily traveled through. The third time, this month, he'd be playing the game. When he got to the back of the market, there were three shoppers spread out amongst the meats, frozen foods, and dairy products.
Thierry Fischer Bids Farewell to Utah Symphony • Salt Lake Magazine
“Excellence is not something set in stone. Excellence is simply doing the very best we have,” says Utah Symphony Music Director Thierry Fischer. Fischer, a Swiss conductor who has been with Utah Symphony since 2009, has ushered the orchestra into a new era guided by this philosophy, one that’s both exacting and open to creativity and exploration.
Popup Restaurant Arthur Breaks New Ground in SLC
This summer, in-the-know diners have been enjoying one of the most inventive, surprising meals in SLC. On select weekends in June, July and August, the acclaimed Japanese-Korean restaurant Nohm has transformed into Arthur, a new popup restaurant from Kevin and Lex Finch. This new dining experience only serves an 8-course tasting menu and selections from a curated wine list, and even in a SLC dining scene with a growing roster of creative upscale restaurants, Arthur stands out.
When a Nice Taco Truck Settles Down
Maybe there’s been one too many mad scrambles for the best parking location during the downtown lunch rush, or the long hours working in a cramped food truck kitchen at the mercy of Utah’s summer heat are not as thrilling as they once were. Whatever the reason, there comes a moment in the life of every food truck when it’s time to put it in park—permanently. Perhaps that’s why three popular Utah taco trucks have recently made the step from hell-on-wheels to brick-and-mortar.
Fitz and the Tantrums Sandy Amphitheater Preview • Salt Lake Magazine
In early 2020, Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick of Fitz and the Tantrums was looking forward to touring in earnest to promote the group’s latest album, All The Feels. But like virtually every music act, any plans for 2020 were turned upside down by the pandemic. Now, Fitz and the Tantrums are returning to their album with a summer 2022 tour featuring Andy Grammer. Both Grammer and the band will perform for Utah audiences at Sandy Amphitheater on Aug. 18.
13 Pool Day Essentials
When the torrid summer heat reaches 100 degrees, there’s no place we’d rather be than poolside. Between swanky pool deck seating and creative floating lights, the following pool day essentials are an absolute must this summer. Ready to dive in? Enjoy your backyard lagoon from the comfort of a chic, minimalist lounger. The textured metal frame and soft cream cushion are effortlessly chic.
The University of Michigan must get a lead on monkeypox before it’s too late
In the last six weeks, the United States has watched domestic monkeypox cases jump from one to over 2,000. This virus is already spreading throughout Michigan, and it shows no sign of slowing down. If powerful institutions don’t act soon, we risk repeating the same failures that exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic.
Review: ‘SLACabaret: Down the Rabbit Hole’ at Salt Lake Acting Company
It’s everywhere. It’s in the Facebook message from someone you haven’t spoken to since high school, trying to sell you a dubious-sounding essential oil blend. It’s in the online post from an influencer promising a foolproof, lucrative way to start your own business. It’s on NBA dancers, amphitheaters and university buildings. Multilevel marketing companies, or MLMs, are basically inescapable in Utah.
Go ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ With Salt Lake Acting Company’s ‘SLACabaret’
When Olivia Custodio first moved to Utah from New York City about a decade ago, she struggled to adjust. “At first, I will be honest, I hated it,” she admits. “I didn’t feel like I had a community.” It wasn’t until she started performing at Salt Lake Acting Company that Custodio began to feel at home while finding an artistic community. She has performed regularly at SLAC in the past several years and served in different staff roles, including the theater’s director of development.
The 9th & 9th Whale Tale
On an overcast April day, a crowd gathered two blocks east of Salt Lake City’s 9th and 9th intersection to welcome their newest neighbor. Kids ate whale-shaped cookies and sipped cocoa, families brought their dogs and some guy wore a possibly-ironic, possibly-sincere sailor hat. The event officially unveiled the Stephen Kesler sculpture Out of the Blue, an impossible-to-miss, 23-foot-tall sculpture of a humpback whale, painted in vibrant rainbow hues by muralist Mike Murdock.
Why Are So Many Social Media Influencers From Utah?
An adorable redheaded 6-year-old squeals in delight as she opens up her front door to discover there are puppies all over her family’s pristine (aside from a few puppy accidents) Northern Utah home. She, her 3-year-old brother, mom and dad run around in a sequence of hasty cutscenes to wrangle all of the dogs. The video then goes on to show some of the kids’ art and a neon-and-adrenaline-infused arcade party.
Goldmyth's Glittering, Moody Indie Pop
Janessa Smith’s 4-year-old son just might be a prodigy in the making. Smith, a Provo-based musician who performs as Goldmyth, has two children who are among the first listeners of her early demos as the family runs daily errands in the car. Perhaps by pure osmosis, her oldest child is already showing an interest in music—the two practice pitch matching as he brushes his teeth and he asks his mom precocious questions about instrumentation and production while listening to songs.
Review: ‘Mestiza, or Mixed’ at Plan-B Theatre
“An agenda doesn’t make a story good. Or necessary.” This line of dialogue, an illuminating moment in a debate about racial identity and representation, could be the mission statement of Melissa Leilani Larson’s new play Mestiza, or Mixed at Plan-B Theatre. Or, more accurately, it’s a statement about what Larson does not want her play to be, one that risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Melissa Leilani Larson’s ‘Mestiza, or Mixed’ Explores Mixed-Race Identity
Melissa Leilani Larson has established herself as one of Utah’s most successful playwrights and screenwriters. She has written stage adaptations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion; Little Happy Secrets, a playabout a woman at BYU who falls in love with her roommate, and the Mormon-focused films Freetown and Jane and Emma.
Kilby Block Party Unites Local and National Musicians
All photos by Natalie Simpson, Beehive Photography Kilby Court is a small but mighty player in the Utah music scene. The downtown garage with a 200-person capacity is an important incubator for local musicians, and with affordable tickets and no age restrictions, the venue is also a home for young fans connecting with live music. Kilby Court is also a common first stop for touring musicians on the rise—odds are Kilby has hosted your favorite musician before you even heard of them.
JazzSLC Keeps America's Music Alive
Gordon Hanks didn’t grow up in a musical family. Raised by a single mother and grandmother, there wasn’t enough money for Hanks to purchase an instrument or take private lessons, and he doesn’t recall listening to music much as a child. Decades later, though, Hanks is undoubtedly an influential figure in the Utah music community—despite the fact that he still hasn’t picked up an instrument.
Review: ‘Hello Dolly!’ at Pioneer Theatre Company
Hello Dolly! is as starry of a star vehicle as you can get. Dolly’s name is right there in the title—exclamation point and all—and the musical’s most famous song involves a chorus of men singing about how much they love her for six minutes straight. The character of Dolly Levi is diva-bait, a chance for a spotlight-stealing actress to bask in adoration, both from the characters on stage and the audience.
Paige Davis Stars in ‘Hello Dolly!’ at Pioneer Theatre Company
Carol Channing. Barbra Streisand. Bette Middler. Few roles in musical theater—for men or women—have as storied of a legacy as the lead part in Hello Dolly! The classic musical is a nostalgic favorite that has lasted for decades, including in an acclaimed 2017 revival starring Middler and, later, Bernadette Peters. Now, the actress Paige Davis is joining the role’s legendary pedigree in a new production at Pioneer Theatre Company.
Fenice, From the Ashes
Since opening in 2010, Silver Star Café has been a not-so-secret secret favorite for Park City locals. Owners Jeff and Lisa Ward built a spot known for its welcoming mountain ambiance and fresh, original comfort food, winning acclaim and awards from practically everyone (including us). Silver Star’s not going anywhere, but the Wards have set their sights on a new concept in a new town with an entirely new menu.
Broadway at the Eccles Announces 2022-23 Season
People get ready. Broadway at the Eccles has announced their 2022-23 season of shows, a roster of favorite returning productions and new hits. These touring productions are musical theater fans’ best chance to see professional productions straight out of New York City, and four of these musicals will be performed in Utah for the first time. (Sadly, the ticket prices are also Broadway-huge.) Here’s what to look forward to next season. The Lion King Sept. 29-Oct.
Review: ‘Aftershock’ at Plan-B Theatre
Estephani Cerros in "Aftershock" at Plan-B Theatre (Photo by Sharah Meservy) Your mental image of the typical Mormon family could probably use a few updates. In Utah, people both inside and outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can easily conjure the stereotype—a happily married mom and dad with three or four perfect kids ready to multiply and replenish the Earth into the eternities. Not so fast.
Review: ‘Fireflies’ at Pioneer Theatre Company
Joy Franz and David Manis in "Fireflies" at Pioneer Theatre Company (Photo courtesy Pioneer Theatre Company) If you’re even a casual rom-com fan, the basic plot of Fireflies, a play by Matthew Barber now at Pioneer Theatre Company, should be pretty familiar. You could probably get a good idea of where things are going from just the playbill summary—the narrative doesn’t depart much from the expected beats of an enemies-to-lovers arc.
'Passing Strange' at Salt Lake Acting Company • Salt Lake Magazine
Clockwise from top left: Carleton Bluford, Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, Latoya Cameron, Kandyce Marie, Brian Kinnard, Jamal A. Shuriah, and Lee Palmer in Salt Lake Acting Company's "Passing Strange" (Photo courtesy Salt Lake Acting Company) More than 13 years after its first Broadway performance, Passing Strange is finally making its Utah debut. The raucous rock musical will be performed at Salt Lake Acting Company from April 6-May 15.
Utah Opera and Utah Symphony Announce 2022-23 Seasons
Salt Lake magazine editor Jen Hill sits with a rehearsal of the Utah Symphony orchestra on August 2, 2019. Spring in Utah doesn’t just mean warmer weather—for music fans, the new season brings a whole host of new concerts to look forward to. Tickets are already on sale for Twilight Concert Series, Ogden Twilight and LOVELOUD Fest, and now classical music aficionados have new seasons of Utah Symphony and Opera to look forward to.
New Beginnings in Pioneer Theatre Company’s ‘Fireflies’
Left to Right: Tito Livas, Joy Lynn Jacobs, Joy Franz, David Manis (Photo courtesy Pioneer Theatre Company) A small-town story of surprising romance, Fireflies, a 2017 play by Matthew Barber, will have its Utah premiere at Pioneer Theatre Company on April 1. In contrast with PTC’s last production—the brash, energetic musical Something Rotten!—Fireflies is an intimate, gently funny romantic comedy-drama focused primarily on two characters.
'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Recap: Season 2 Reunion
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY "Reunion" Pictured: (l-r) Meredith Marks, Jennie Nguyen, Lisa Barlow, Andy Cohen, Jen Shah, Heather Gay, Whitney Rose (Photo by Nicole Weinagart/Bravo) After a wild, up-and-down Season 2, the cast of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City gathered on a gloriously tacky winter-wonderland set to dig into all of this season’s juiciest drama.
A Pot for Every Plant
Unlike some trends that emerged during the pandemic lockdown (RIP sourdough yeast starter), buying more and caring for houseplants seems to have persisted into 2022. Gardening saw a 18.7% increase among Americans from 2019 to 2020, and all of those plants aren’t just going to go away (unless you couldn’t keep them alive, of course).
How The Gateway Got Its Groove Back Original
Shopping malls have not historically been known as centers of culinary excellence. Amid a sea of Sbarro, Orange Julius and Auntie Anne’s, your average chain-heavy food court is rarely a spot for interesting local cuisine. The Gateway, though, is bucking expectations. The mall-turned-entertainment-complex now has a growing roster of unique restaurants and bars in an unlikely dining hub. These new (or new-ish) eateries are part of The Gateway’s larger revitalization.
Pop Art Pioneer Billy Schenck at Modern West and Southern Utah Museum of Art
The cinematic Western landscapes and cowboy protagonists of Billy Schenck’s art aren’t just a fantasy—it’s in his DNA. The artist, who spent part of his childhood riding horses and farming cattle in Wyoming, is known as, in his words, one of the “granddaddies” of Western pop art. Though he spent part of his early career in New York City, Schenck, who now lives in New Mexico, fully embraces the Western lifestyle he depicts.
Crimson Snow
Carl Stetson watched the blood drip from the tree’s remaining leaves down to the heavy snow below. Drip. Drip. It reminded him of a snow cone. The way the Tiger’s Blood flavoring melted the icy top as it traveled down to pool at the bottom of the cup. The blood did the same. Creating a warm crimson puddle as it melted away the fresh snow.
Review: ‘Something Rotten!’ at Pioneer Theatre Company
Galyana Castillo and Matt Farcher in Pioneer Theatre Company's "Something Rotten!" (Courtesy Pioneer Theatre Company) At the beginning of the pandemic, some writers pointed out that Shakespeare wrote one of his most acclaimed plays, King Lear, in the middle of a plague. This led to speculation on what brilliant, era-defining work of art would come out of our modern plague.
At Modern West and Southern Utah Museum of Art, Pop Art Pioneer Billy Schenck
"A Quiet Time" by Billy Schenck (Courtesy Modern West) The cinematic Western landscapes and cowboy protagonists of Billy Schenck’s art aren’t just a fantasy—it’s in his DNA. The artist, who spent part of his childhood riding horses and farming cattle in Wyoming, is known as, in his words, one of the “granddaddies” of Western pop art. Though he spent part of his early career in New York City, Schenck, who now lives in New Mexico, fully embraces the Western lifestyle he depicts.
'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Recap: 'Why Can't We Be Friends'
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY -- "Why Can’t We Be Friends" Episode 221 -- Pictured: (l-r) Lisa Barlow, Jennie Nguyen -- (Photo by Fred Hayes/Bravo) After a long, epic season of federal fraud challenges, hot mic revelations and debates over whether eating at Taco Bell makes a person “fake” (if anything, it makes a person more real!) we have finally reached the end of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 2.
Review: ‘The Clean-Up Project’ at Plan-B Theatre
Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin in Plan-B Theatre's "The Clean-Up Project" (Photo by Sharah Meservy/Courtesy Plan-B Theatre) In the past two years, Utah theater companies have made noticeable strides to include more performers and creators of color. This progress is far from complete, but it’s still heartening to see an intentional effort from producers, performers and patrons to change a community that was overwhelmingly white: onstage, behind-the-scenes and in the audience.
Empathy and Rage in Plan-B Theatre’s 'The Clean-Up Project'
The cast of "The Clean-Up Project" (Photo by Sharah Meservy/Courtesy Plan-B Theatre) “I was really, really, really angry and I didn’t know how to get that out,” says playwright Carleton Bluford. It was summer 2020, and Bluford, like many in the U.S., was saddened and enraged by the murder of George Floyd. Needing an outlet, he channeled his pent-up emotions into a journal entry. “That’s what I do.
‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ Recap: ‘Memorial Meltdown’
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY -- "I Was Driving Carpool!" Episode 209 -- Pictured: (l-r) Heather Gay, Meredith Marks (Photo by Fred Hayes/Bravo) I’ll say one thing about the cast of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: this group has an almost impressive talent for ignoring what’s right in front of them.
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