My Experience at the Great Salt Lake

 Hello, I recently visited the Great Salt Lake, on Thursday January 22nd, 2026, and I figured I would share what I saw. 

If you know me or follow my social media, there is a chance that you already saw my post on my Instagram story, but this was something I felt strongly enough about that I wanted to create a more permanent and in depth reflection of what I saw.

I was up early on the Northern side of SLC, which is a neighborhood I'm not in very often. (Aside from when I see my barber at Stef's place) and its a cool neighborhood. The day prior I had gone on a hike up Neff's canyon, and looking to continue my going-into-nature streak, I decided to go to the Great Salt Lake, because I was a lot closer to it than I usually am, so I drove out west, (I got pulled over on the way, SMH).

When I arrived at the Saltair I took in the scenery, and I quickly noticed that the water was really far away from the Saltair and where I parked my car. I checked out the Saltair, for some reason I thought I heard it was abandoned at some point but it's in pretty good shape, and apparently they do EDM fests out there sometimes, so that's cool.

I kept walking out to the water and I could smell the lake. The last time I was out there was probably when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade on a school field trip, and I remember the lake being really smelly, and I always hear people talking about how stinky it is. It didn't smell as strongly as I remembered it (probably cuz its cold not warm r.n) it was a very subtle, oceany smell, a little bit salty ofc. But the smell was tainted a little bit by the nearby industrial smelter, it was easy to tell which smell was coming from the lake and which was coming from the bad air quality.

As I walked to the shoreline, I noticed a couple of dead birds, I didn't want to freak out about it or anything when I noticed the first couple in the sand that were closer to the original shoreline. At first I thought it was kinda cool because nature n stuff y'know? But when I got to the water it was hard not to be alarmed, because literally lining the shoreline of the lake was dozens and dozens of dead birds, most looked like a duck of some kind, but there were also some seagulls.

I didnt have to travel far to find this spot, this is just where I landed after deciding I was gonna walk to the water

At this point my mood got pretty shitty, because the air quality was bad, and it was a long walk to the water from the Saltair, and when I got there there were so many dead birds it made my stomach upset. I realized I should probably take some pictures of what I saw, so here's some more of those just so you can have as clear of a picture as I did.

Picture taken through my binocular lens (North)

Looking North

Looking South (dead bird w the smelter in the background, Saltair on left)

After snapping a couple of pictures I walked back to the Saltair, and drove home.

Emotionally, I felt like I had mentally checked out for the rest of the day after this had happened and I noticed my mood was worse in the days after seeing the lake. And I think it was because this had really impacted me.

I have been hearing about the lakes worsening health as an ecosystem for years now, I recently wrote my final paper in my Geography class about the poor health of the lake, but I haven't actually seen it. Now having actually experienced the sights, the smells, the general vibe of the area, it felt like I was looking down the barrel of a gun. I realized we're not talking about a potential ecological collapse, we're in the middle of it. If we don't do something NOW, this beautiful and unique ecosystem will turn into an environmental nuclear bomb, if we kill it, it will kill us.

I wanted to write a whole thing on the science of how bad it will all be, but I just recommend you watch this youtube video: (about 10 minutes in he explains the hydrology)

 TLDR for da video: Essentially human activity has diverted the water from the rivers that support the lake to the point of leaving the lake in a deficit of water, more water is being diverted than is allowed to make it to the lake. because of this, the lake has shrunk from its historic high in the 1980s to its historic low in 2022. The exposed lake bed contains toxic heavy metals like arsenic and lead, that will then be kicked up and turned into dust storms that will not only hurt our already bad air quality, but it could get so bad to the point that SLC, Ogden, and Provo would all be rendered unlivable, which would be catastrophic for the rest of the state and the region, and also me. Should all of the lake bed be exposed in the event that we completely lose the lake, the dust could blow across the entire Western US, effecting the health of the population and the environments of Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, California, Oregon, New Mexico, and it could even blow as far as the great plains and the east coast. BYU Published a study claiming that the lake could dry up within 5 years of its publishing date in 2022 (which would mean the lake would be gone by 2028), but if you recall the following couple winters in 2022 and 2023 both had high snowfall, which allowed the lake to recover some of its water, which has delayed the worst case scenario of it being gone by '28. But our winter this year? Will blind luck keep delaying this? I don't think so.

Visit the lake if you want, it feels like visiting a dying family member. Please do what you can to educate yourself on this issue and make the necessary changes in your life to support our environment 💙

thanks for reading

 

 

 

MUSIC REVIEW #1: Souvlaki - Slowdive

1994 SLOWDIVE's - Souvlaki: 8/10

    For this weeks 'Melomaniacs' album, we selected Souvlaki, with the prompt being "Wintertime/Christmas", and while this album is far, far from being a Christmas album (you will find no cheery, cozy ballads here), I do stand by it having a blue wintry hue to it. Listening to this album with that lens, I find this to be an almost perfect album for our creepy snowless December we've been experiencing. The soundscapes that Slowdive invokes throughout this album goes from being like a snowflake in a blizzard, to being a beam of light travleing through space. You can hear the icy linings of a mountainous cave etched into the swelling and shrinking of re-verbing guitar, the sparkling use of the percussion, and the ghostlike vocals across the whole album. Anyway, thats enough of my winter interpretations of this album.

 

    As far as Shoegaze goes, this is easily one of the most important albums when it comes to the genre. Slowdive adds a pop sensibility to the genre that I think many shoegaze bands could learn from (many have by 2025, partially because of this album I bet!). Right from the get go, 'Alison' subjects the listener to the dreamy atmosphere that is present throughout the album, although this song is a bit "brighter" compared to some of the haziness thats present on the album. 'Machine Gun' really ramps up the ghostly presence that's heard throughout the whole album, but the hazy keyboard and especially the vocal duet really brings this song to life, which is a stark contrast to the next track, '40 days' which, despite the haziness of the track, still feels warm and directed, but only if the direction is up, shit makes me levitate is what im tryna say. But by the next 2 tracks, 'Sing' and 'Here She Comes', I feel as though I have levitated too far and am now floating in the void, this is the part of the album that I think may be the most devastating, and cold. 

 

    This is a big part of why I think this album is so fantastic, it ebbs and flows as any good album should, but it does so in a beautiful and unique dance of warmth and cold, of love, and losing it. (Lore moment: losing love is a huge theme on the album as the two creative leads of the band, Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell broke up right before beginning the creative process of this album). The energy picks back up on 'Souvlaki Space Station', if your still following my levitation analogy, no longer are you floating aimlessly in a hazy void as you were on the previous 2 tracks, this song is the energy picking back up, you are now accelerating through space, exploring the space between the Earth and the Moon. I love the echoy percussion on this track as well as the bass, which is in the drivers seat of the space station, while the guitars are left to beam the little warmth you would be receiving from the sun directly into your ears. The track stops, and suddenly you are back on Earth with 'When the Sun Hits', which is easily the climax of the album, feels like the sun landing on your face on a cold, wintry day. From there, the album begins its descent towards its conclusion. 'Altogether', as well as 'Melon Yellow' feels like they were conjured up in a weed-induced haze (which is how the album was created allegedly lol) the album is slowly winding down, until its final track (unless you listen to the CD or Spotify release where theres between 5-10 more songs) 'Dagger'. I can smell the stink of a snowy cigarette and feel the heartache in this track so poignantly, and the album ends modestly on this track.

 

    Overall, Slowdive really did create an album that shines brighter than most with 'Souvlaki'. Even though I wouldn't call myself a Shoegazeguy,  this album gives me an undeniable appreciation for the genre, and even more so for the band behind it. Im gonna give this album an 8/10, I think its a fantastic album but it does lose me at times (mostly with Sing, Here She Comes, and Melon Yellow). But once again Slowdive really did a lot for Shoegaze with their slightly more pop oriented take on the genre. 

anyway thanks for reading byebye!!!!

 

Top 10 Restaraunts in SLC

No matter who you are on this Earth, man, woman, child, or even another animal other than human. Fish, Dogs, Cats, all of the above, doesn't even matter, you must eat. You must eat to survive here on Earth, such is the way mother nature has decreed it. I myself am one of these creatures who must eat to survive, and as such I have compiled this list for you, my fellow fan of eating.

At times, the technological hellscape that man has created around themselves can be overwhelming, however, if it has granted us one thing, it may be yummy food. What was once our must existential threat, hunger, has been tamed. But only if you have access to these 10 restaurants all located within the Salt Lake Valley area:

 (this list is in not a ranking and is listed in no particular order.)

Over The Counter Cafe

 If you are ever in the millcreek area and are craving an all American Breakfast, Over The Counter cannot be beat. As far as breakfast foods go, theyve got it all. Pancakes, Eggs, Potatoes, Burritos, Coffee, omg the coffee! One of my favorite memories of this place was in 2024, Ripley and I had just returned home from our trip to Amsterdam. After a night of (not a lot) jet lagged sleep, we got up at about 4 or 5 in the morning, we decided to get some food at Over The Counter Cafe. I have never had bacon as perfectly seasoned and cooked as I did in that moment. If I recall, I remember wishing I had ordered my eggs a little bit more cooked as the whites were a little bit runny, but regardless, normally its bussin. My go to orders are the B.E.S.T., the OTC skillet, or the French toast. The coffee is incredible but you will feel like you are on crack for the rest of the day after 2 of those cups of joe.

Rich's Burgers 

I have been to this place many times now and I would be so daring to say they have the BEST burger in Salt Lake City. Their menu is pretty straight forward, but it is definitely unique as far as burgers go. Its like theres a bunch of different burger meals, its crazy. My go to is the Mac and Cheese burger, as the mac and cheese is always cooked to complete perfection, with slightly crispy cheesy goodness oozing out of  every bite. They also have baller milkshakes, as well as fries and sweet potato fries. One time they had deepfried mushrooms as a side, which while unique was quite enjoyable as well. Also try the Guacamole Burger or the Maui Burger.

Greenhouse Effect

 If you find yourself in the Millcreek area, and aren't hungry enough for the best American breakfast you will ever have at OTC, and are instead in need of a cozy coffee shop vibe, then Greenhouse Effect is for you. This is the perfect 3rd place, theres always a good amount of people inside socializing, or otherwise on their computer working on whatever they may be working on. For me, this place has surely become my favorite Crepe in SLC. Whether you are meeting up with a friend, on a date, or need to cram a bunch of homework, Greenhouse effect will leave you feeling happy that places like it still exist. Try the Chai tea, Rice pudding, and the california crepe, or perhaps a nutella crepe if you want something sweeter.

 Curry in a Hurry

 As far as curry goes, Im not gonna lie, this probably isn't the restaurant I have frequented the most. That title would probably go to Gurkhas (look it up). However I selected Curry in a Hurry because it is also very very good. It's been a while so lowkey Im not sure what to recommend but the tiny tiny shop very much has a mom and pop vibe. If you want Indian curry go to Gurkhas, but if you want Pakistani curry, go to curry in a hurry. Both are great, I like yellow curry yum yum.

Pho Tay Ho

Speaking of a Mom and Pop vibe, Pho Tay Ho may be the winner in that regard, as its literally in an old couples house. Specializing in Pho, (pronounced Fuh..) Pho Tay Ho has dethroned my previous favorite Vietnamese food which would have been Little Saigon, but little saigon still has amazing Vietnamese sandwiches, which Pho Tay Ho does not serve unfortunately so still check out little saigon. Pho Tay Ho's pho has great flavor, the cuts of meat on the inside are always incredible, and it has really yummy (and spicy) chile oil. This place is damn cheap too compared to a lot of Pho nowadays, if you pay in cash you can get a small bowl (which is still pretty damn big) for like $11. Absolutely unheard of in 2025. You can't really go wrong with the menu, just choose your favorite cut of meat for your Pho and your set, but the Thai iced tea is really good as well as the egg rolls. 

Pie Hole

Now, I may be biased as this is my place of employment ngl, but hear me out. As far as pizza goes in SLC, pie hole is only really rivaled by the big stupid chains, perhaps big daddys but theyre kinda mid, and The Pie. The Pie is good, but they put their pepperoni under the cheese which is wack and the pizza is really sloppy. If you want sloppy pizza go to the Pie, I'm not saying its bad but its very wet and doesnt keep very well. The Pie HOLE on the other hand is not sloppy at all, its much more New York style pizza, when you take a bite you can hear the crunch from space, the cheese is melted to a perfect orange, and the pepperoni lays firmly above the cheese. The 4 basic slices you can get on any night are already a great variety, pepperoni, cheese, potato & bacon, and the red peppers & basil. Perfectly balanced for any mood, but on top of that there are 4 slices that rotate out everyday, and theyre damnnnn goood. Shoutout the Bird dog and the Thai chicken, you cant go wrong with this place (unless your vegan sorry the vegan slices can be weird). Get drunk at one of the many bars around State & 3rd, and then come here and you will experience a high that you will be chasing everytime you get drunk again.

Bud's Sandwiches

 I mentioned vegan slices in the last review, if you are vegan I would instead opt for Bud's sandwiches. Being the only all-vegan restaurant that has made it onto my top 10 should earn it extra points, because you can't tell this place is vegan at all imo. I have nothing against vegan food, but I have eaten at Mark of the Beastro multiple times, and its just not that good. You can tell that the imitation meat and cheese is imitation. Not at Buds. Served up on these incredible cuts of french bread, you can have a buffalo chicken sub, or a classic Italian deli sandwich, with what you would think is the best chicken or salami you've ever had, but its fucking VEGAN! This place is perfect for a summer sammy, as there is no lobby but an awesome little patio to chill out and eat your sandwich on. Try the sandwiches I said earlier but also the Pesto sub.

Spitz 

As far as mediteranean food goes, Spitz may well have the best in SLC. I have only recently started going to Spitz, and after intially thinking the name was kinda weird, I was very impressed. Firstly, they have an awesome deal where you can get a whole pitcher of beer for the price of 2 glasses of beer, so thats like doubles the beers for your bucks. Secondly, they have the best wraps ever. I have yet to try anything other than a wrap, but they also have Gyro's and little salad bowls and both look really tasty too. I have only been there 3 times at the time of me writing this, and I got the Mediterranean wrap two of those times. It has really fucking good olives inside of it. I need to experience more of the menu, but I already love what I've had.

Mr. Charlie's Chicken

If you know me, then you likely have been waiting to see this on my top 10 list. I am so very grateful for this place for proving to me that we as fans of chicken food deserve better than Raising Canes. Mr. Charlies motto is "southern comfort at altitude", which I find endearing, because their buffalo and nashville sauce get me sweating like I'm on an airplane going down. Hands down the best fried chicken in the state, and when you know what you got you make it last, just as Mr. Charlie himself has done. They got tendies, wraps, po' boys, wings, and baked chicken and you seriously cannot go wrong. The chicken has a crisp seasoned outside, with a soft, tender, steaming hot inside. Very generous proportions of french fries and chicken compared to Canes (although they have been slipping a tad.....) and a wide variety of sauces that you can choose to your liking. Depending on my mood I'll have the tenders, or perhaps a Nashville po boy or wrap. But if your feeling crazy and want to share, I would also heavily recommend the Nashville fries. They also have chicken and waffles which I have not had but it sounds really damn good. For choices of sauce I almost always go with buffalo, ranch, charlie sauce (like cane sauce or fry sauce but better), and the Garlic parm. If you want chicken in SLC you are a fucking poser unless you go to Mr Charlies Chicken.

 Tacos Don Rafa

Last, but certainly not least, is a true locals only, Tacos Don Rafa. Being a Taco truck outside on the corner of State & 8th, you wouldn't expect such a heavy hitter to be so unassuming. Tacos Don Rafa makes Tacos (obv), quesadillas, or burritos on the sidewalk just for you. You get to dress it up out of a cooler exactly to your liking, and you may help yourself to a mexican coke whilst you are at it. Once you take your seat and eat the masterful arrangment of meats, cheeses, and tortillas, all dressed up by none other than your very self, you will be wondering where TDR was all these years. The portions are massive for a pretty damn cheap price, whether your a hungry fellow who needs a massive burrito NOW, or someone who could just use for a bite and decides to order 2 tacos, you will fall in love. My go to order is usually the Quesadillas with Cabeza, I do mine up with plenty of pico de gallo, radish, cilantro, some onions and salsa, and damn, it will keep you fed and leave you begging for more. I have had 3 orders of Taco Dan rafa in one night before, and I will tell you that I was blowing up that toilet for the entire next day, and I didn't regret it for a second. Tacos Don Rafa may possibly be the best Mexican place in SLC.. (although they do have stiff competition so I will not say that with 100% confidence). 

Well everyone, thanks for reading my top 10 restaraunts in SLC. Also, Wild Pepper Pizza is right across the street from Tacos Don Rafa if you want pizza instead, which was a close contendor with pie hole for best pizza. Also, Moochies is right down the street from TDR as well, which Moochies deserves an honorable mention for best sandwich fr, PLEASE TRY THESE PLACES THANK YOU FOR READING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

     Hello all,

My name is Charlie. In an effort to curb my Chronic Brainrot Syndrome, I am starting this blog. In this blog, I will be putting music related things up such as reviews, maybe covers who knows, and also just general thoughts and feelings about things! Please stick around