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Show Page 2 The West View Festival Showcases Culture in the Gardens THE WEST VIEW July 2005 Issue Submission Deadline: By Melissa Sillitoe International Wednesday, July 27 Peace The International Peace Garden’s annual festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 12-5 p.m. The free festival is sponsored Gardens We welcome your stories, Switzerland photos, and opinions. Grea. by the Peace Garden committee, the Salt Lake Please notify us if you know of Council of Women and the cultural and ethnic organizations that sponsor the individual peace gardens, This year’s planned highlights include: E-mail: editor@thewestview.org and band from Ben from Mexican, German cultures; Lomond; Phone: (801)355-9572 traditional Korean, Irish, Greek Italian music; and ct a Skate Park color guard of all 28 nations’ flags by Parkview Elementary students. Local singer Tom Pike will sing the national anthem and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. will be the guest speaker. Seotiand S00 West Street a Scots dances something in the community that deserves coverage. THE WEST VIEW Editor Charlotte Fife-Jepperson Assistant Editor Norma Hendrickson Layout/Design Chad Jepperson Distribution Salt Lake West Journal Consultant/Advisor James A, Fisher Legal Advisor Mary C. Gordon Advertising Salt Lake West Journal Staff - Dale Young, Boyd Petersen Peace Garden Lane Irene Wiesenberg, Peace Garden commit- Mexico tee chair, points out that planning a festival is a great way to promote local unity. “Everyone works as a team to make the day a success,” she says. There will be food in the Mexican garden this year. The American garden may sell soft drinks. Anyone who wants a different type of ethnic food should pack a picnic—and come enjoy this fun, free neighborhood celebration. France Korea 5 -Phittipine. Russia. onga ‘Tang Vietnarn. Created in 1939 by the Salt Lake Council of Women, the International Peace Gardens in Jordan Park consist of individual garden plots representing 28 different countries. Map source: Salt Lake Council of Women brochure To the naked. eye, Henry Polacek is just another 12-yearold boy with good parents, who lives in a good neighborhood and stays out of trouble. A closer look reveals a rock ‘n roll axe-wielding phenom, a child prodigy if you will, who six months after picking up a guitar is already playing classic Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Polacek, who lives just off of California Avenue in the Wasatch Commons Cohousing community, started out as a cello player. Like Edward Van Halen, who started out playing classical ‘piano and whose father was a concert pianist, Polacek learned opera singer in New York City. Exactly when he decided to pick up the guitar is uncertain, Rock School branch manager Steve Auerbach said, “Henry’s been great to work with. Students, parents, and audiences have been amazed at the quality however, of our shows. classical music on the cello and has a mother who was a former pushed one him day out his the mother door and PGSORM program, which they may never learn for themselves what they can do. Once students overcome their initial laziness and fear — and learn their parts — that’s when the real fun starts.” indi- ally begin performing in rock concerts at local, age-appropri10 weeks a a student what he or she can’t do, vidual instruction on traditional rock instruments, group lessons, and rehearsals. Students usu- ate venues within instruction. have cipline, hard work, and practice. after school includes we We believe that if you don’t tell is an open-enroll- tuition-based Sure, lot of fun at rock school — but it is only due to the student’s dis- delivered him. to the Paul Green School of Rock Music (PGSORM), located at 503 North 400 West. ment, Polacek, who was very ner- vous at first, was introduced to other young men and women With the same dreams he had. of By Norma Hendrickson Those peers, who from 8 to range in age 18, would eventually become his fellow musicians at the school and contribute to Polacek’s success. Polacek credits his supportive parents, Mike and Lynne, along with the great base provided by PGSROM. One part of Polacek’s success that often goes unnoticed is his personal dedication to a dream. Most people have dreams, but very few can muster the dedication from within to see it through to completion. Polacek has this dedication. One might be skeptical, never having heard Polacek play. However, after sitting down and See Rock Star on page 3 The main secret, obviously, is the food. Aj and Raki Pai moved to the avenues a week ago from New Mexico and they’ve already eaten here twice. They enjoyed the fajitas, enchiladas verdes and which she calls family, with keep- ing things going during the difficult transition. Chef Ramirez and servers Lydia Lettig and Carmen Hernandez have all worked here 14 years or more and say they love the food, the customers, the bosses—everything. Lucy worried they’d never survive without her brother, but customers and food critics agree that the chefs, Esteven Ramirez and Luis Heredia, have kept the Carmen Hernandez, Estevan Ramirez, and Lydia Lettig have all worked at the Red Iguana for years. They say the food, customers and management Photo by Norma is as authentic keep them there. Hendrickson the salsa. They rated the flan as the best they’d ever tasted. “The food Norma Hendrickson Mike Polacek The West Side’s ‘Red Iguana’ Considered Best Mexican Restaurant in Utah Red Iguana calls itself home of killer Mexican food. Judging from the awards it has captured, it seems to be killer of all the competition as well. The orange and lime green walls are covered with plates, plaques and magazine articles touting this unassuming eatery as “Best Mexican in Utah” year after year. How does the little café blow out all the competition? At first glance, it may look like something only a mother could love, but judging from the lines of eager patrons lined up out the door, it’s the darling of an extended adoptive family. We asked diners the secret of Red Iguana’s success, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Charlotte Fife-Jepperson Meet Aspiring Rock Star: Henry ‘School of Rock’ Polacek By Scott Forman STAFF WRITERS Scott Forman ¢ Norma Hendrickson Dale J. Neilson ° Melissa Sillitoe as it gets,” said Aj Pai. The couple also gave Iguana high marks for inexpensive quality food and outstanding customer service. The family recipes were passed from founders Maria and Ramon Cardenas to their son, Ramon, Jr., who was chef until his death in 2002. Daughter Lucy now oversees the family business and credits the loyal staff of 53, killer recipes intact. They had both worked with Ramon Jr. and mastered the moles, These concoctions, Lucy explained, are seven rich spicy sauces that are the signature menu item at the Red Iguana. “We’re not afraid to throw spices at you,” she said. Today’s customers include airline mechanic David Borre, who is stationed in Denver, but comes here each time he gets to Salt Lake; visitor Stan Briggs who will likely eat here three days in a row, and loves his hotel con- The West View is a community-based newspaper, providing a voice and informational resource for residents and businesses on the west side of Salt Lake City. We welcome community involvement and appreciate story and photo contributions. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for style and space, and will not publish anything that is defamatory or slanderous in nature, Please email submissions to the editor and include your full name, city or community, and telephone number. You may also deliver your submissions to us on a compact, floppy or zip disc. As an insert in the Salt Lake West has Journal, a 24,500 The West circulation of View around copies delivered month- ly to every household and business on the West Side. It is also available on newsstands in local recreation centers, senior centers, shopping centers, libraries, and on the web at www.thewestview.org. Please contact us if you live outside the distribution area and would like to be added to our mailing list. The subscription rate is $15 per year (12 issues). Our Contact Info: editor @thewestview.org The West View 1094 Garn Way SLC, UT 84104 (801)355-9572 http://www.thewestview.org cierge for telling him about the place; and Delta Center workers who come here for their weekly Mexican fix. Keith Eagan comes for lunch once a month and suggests you arrive by 10:45 a.m. to beat the lunch rush. Others say don’t let the lines scare you; the place seats 90 people and the wait is usually under 30 minutes. Red Iguana, 736 W. North Temple, opens at II a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m, weekends. For history, menu, reviews, and photos, go to www.rediguana.com. |