This year, we mark 50 years of Edward Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang—a countercultural classic that helped ignite the radical environmental movement. First published in 1975, the novel introduced the world to Bonnie, Doc, Seldom Seen Smith, and Hayduke—and dared readers to imagine sabotage as sacred duty.

There’s no one better suited to lead this conversation than legendary bookseller and rare book expert Ken Sanders—a close friend of Abbey, a fierce defender of the desert, and a long-time voice in the literary and ecological worlds of the American West.

Through wine, words, and wide-open questions, we’ll explore Abbey’s complicated legacy and enduring impact. Expect sharp insights, spirited debate, and a space to reflect on radical environmentalism in an era of climate emergency.

Kim Bowsher and her family have a philosophy: “You can’t know where this yes is going to take you, but you say yes and it starts to line up.” She is currently Roosters Hospitality Group CEO, but she is much more than that. When she met with other Ogden business owners about local issues, she decided to do something about them. At 26 years old, she went to the mayor’s office to present a solution. That plan would eventually turn into the Ogden Downtown Alliance. Kim is a prominent figure in Ogden, Utah, known for her work with the Ogden Downtown Alliance and various other community organizations. She recently stepped down as Executive Director of the Ogden Downtown Alliance after nearly a decade of service, where she was instrumental in establishing the organization and driving its growth.

She was instrumental in establishing and growing the Farmers Market Ogden, which was named "Indie Ogden Best Project of the Year" and "Best Event". Besides her work with the Alliance, Bowsher has served on numerous community boards, including Visit Ogden, GOAL Foundation, Junior League of Ogden, and the Ogden Food Council. She also founded Ogden Young Professionals and served on the board of WomenMTB. She is currently. When Kim couldn’t find a company to work for that was busy with projects she was interested in, she started her own, kbENT. Which is a full scale marketing group.

Snag one, sip it, and smile! Another episode of the Lets Go Eat and Drink Show is here!

Violet’s story begins at another Violet in a bygone time. About 20 years ago, Myra and Troy Petersen met while they were both working at a restaurant named Violet in Santa Monica, California. She was a bartender and he was a server. After their first daughter was born, the family moved to Utah, where the Petersen's became involved in the industry locally as well as in the Utah food scene.

Troy Petersen, who grew up with the Caputo family and is a friend of Matt Caputo and the late Tony Caputo, worked at Caputo’s Market and Deli downtown and also helped open Caputo’s at 15th and 15th in about 2006. The family bounced between Los Angeles and Utah for a while, but eventually Myra and Troy Petersen decided that they wanted to raise their children in Utah, so they moved back for the final time in about 2012. Once the Petersen's were ready to open their own Violet in Utah, they contacted the restaurant’s previous owner, got his blessing to reuse the name, and went for it.

Find some bubbly, bust it open, and join us in celebrating one of Salt Lake City's finest 'Ma and Pa' restaurants!

If you’ve google searched a menu for a restaurant in Utah, you likely can thank Stuart for the results! Stuart is the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  He’s a multiple-award winning journalist and has written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years. He’s worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, and helping to consult on national TV.

Pause those credits, yep, that's Stuart! He’s also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. He appears largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don't understand. What they're saying about Stuart: "Not inaccurate", "I thought he was older", "I don’t share his feelings". If you ever need to know where to eat, Gastronomic SLC is the ultimate resource! He started SLC Menu as somewhere to house all the hard-to-find menus he picked up during hid food writing travels. Through the archives you can find menus from the last fifteen years of the Salt Lake City dining scene.

https://gastronomicslc.com/   or   https://www.slcmenu.com/

Your Oasis in the Great Basin is Coming Soon! https://www.remorabar.com/

Mikey and Sam have been concocting more than just Hurricane's and Perfect Storm's. These guys have been working hard, and planning something special to bring to the community.

They took residence over a heartbreakingly closed 'The Ruin' bar which was called 'Mutiny on Main'. Sam and Mikey know how to bring tricks, atmosphere, and presentation to your glass. They most certainly brought it to our show.

Fill one up. Sip it down, and enjoy another 'Lets Go Eat and Drink Show!'

On today's episode we speak with referee royalty in the MLS, NCAA community, Paul Scott!

Scott also serves as the referee coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, as well as Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football manager of refereeing and the National Premier Soccer League director of officials. In addition, he is an assessor for the Professional Referee Organization, and a US Soccer national instructor.

This month we step into a historically significant space where stories, place, and presence come together. Another iteration of Salt Lake City’s new monthly live podcast and boozy book club series—gathering writers, readers, and thinkers for intimate afternoons of conversation and connection. 

We’re re-launching the podcast series into this new space by discussing the literary work of American writer, educator, conservationist, and activist, Terry Tempest Williams, one of Utah’s most powerful literary voices, at the historic Clubhouse on South Temple—originally home to the Ladies Literary Club. (Click to learn more history).

Charcuterie by Beehive Cheese

Guests enjoy a guided wine tasting paired for each book/author presented by Jim Santangelo, Sommelier and steward of The Wine Academy of Utah, (optional + non-alcoholic libations included), with on-site books available for purchase curated by Ken Sanders Rare Books.

Next month come early, grab a glass, and take your seat for a memorable experience rooted in story, spirit, and the landscape we call home.

From the X96 webpage, “Nick Davis is the ‘newest’ member of the X96 family. He was born and raised in Utah and is currently a student at the University of Utah. His passions include listening to music and going to concerts, so working for X96 is a perfect fit. He started out as an intern for the Radio From Hell show and wouldn’t leave the building.”

Nick is considered X96’s market tested bad boy, with a streak for taking photos with people in panda costumes. Is he considered tumultuous? No, instead, that’s his alter-ego Dick Navis.

Worrisome mustache mania continues to plague the mind of Nick, at least from my perspective. Residing in the SLC valley, he works hard for his dog biscuit, his wife, and hopes the construction stops soon so maybe he can get some sleep.

Mike Marron has been fermenting since he was 10 year old, and no. We don't mean he's been sitting in it. He's been gloriously intrigued by the process of fermenting grapes, and planted pinot noir grapes behind his childhood home in 1977 — which he still uses to make wine.

He has brought his professional intrigue of winemaking to La Caille in 2015. La Caille, the iconic restaurant which sits on 20 acres at the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon in Sandy, has found its stride with farm-to-table food and a re-established wine label.

Mike has been making wine from Salt Lake Valley Grapes since he was 19 years old, his expertise has brought Chateau La Caille to a  new level of excellence. In 2012, La Caille re-opened under the ownership of Kevin Gates, who spent $1.5 million restoring the chateau and the grounds. 

Ken Sanders is an American antiquarian bookseller who is also well known for his pursuit of book thieves. We are lucky enough to get to interview him, and join him alongside 'Literary Libations'.

He founded Ken Sanders Rare Books in 1997 and Dream Garden Press in 1980. In 1982 he was a founding member of the Fund for Wild Nature (then the Earth First! Foundation), which provides grants for the protection of biodiversity and wilderness. He is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and served on its Board of Governors for six years.

Because we couldn't get enough of him, we decided to sit him down with some smoky whisky, and get to know the man behind the books!