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CELEBRATING THE INNER GENIUS OF ZION'S MANY MISFITS AND NONCONFORMISTS.
BIT CITY WEEKLY STAFF
cornrnents@cityweekly.net
O, PIONEERS! WHERE IN THE WORLD DID OUR STATE GET ITS STRAIGHT-LACED REPUTATION?
Utah is far from boring. It's full of adventurers, inventors, tinkerers and innovators-people who set out to change the world, and quite often succeed beyond anybody's wildest dreams.
Maybe that's got something to do with the state's pioneer heritage-there's just something about Utah that attracts trailblazers and folks who prefer to wander a little bit off the beaten path. We're proud of that heritage, and we celebrate those old-time pioneer settlers every July with a big parade and fireworks.
But, our pioneering spirit did not the out in 1847. Utah is also the birthplace of television, the Industrial Workers of the World, the guy who invented the modern computer graphical user interface and scores of artists, activists and visionaries.
This year, City Weekly celebrates these "alternative" pioneers-60 (or so) people, places and things that have had a lasting impact on our world and the way we perceive it. Of course, it's not an exhaustive list. These are just our picks.
Did we leave out your favorite altie pioneer? Go to CityWeekly.net and let us know. While there, check out some video interviews with alternative pioneers such as radio commenter/Trapp owner Joe Redburn, Saft City Derby Girl Brew Haha, Plan-B Theatre Company founder Jerry Rapier and candidate/rave organizer/tech visionary Pete Ashdown.
Thanks to them, and others like them, our world is far from boring-and we hope they'll inspire generations of future innovators.
Pioneers, we salute you!
GREG SCHIRF
Beer would exist in Utah without Greg Schirf. But great beer might not. In 1989, Schirf opened Utah's first micro-brewery: Park City's Wasatch Brewpub. He also proposed the Utah Legislature bill in 1988 that would make brew pubs legal here. So to you, Mr. Schirf, we raise a cold glass of Polygamy Porter.
BLUE BOUTIQUE
Dildos are not a crime. You wouldn't know it, though, by the frequent uproar raised over Tony and Laura Martinez's Blue Boutique. The store's rather harmless selection of aduit magazines, videos, toys and lingerie are a widespread hit, with three locations-bright, spacious stores whose vibe is naughty, not dirty-where customers can pick up...