Three Short Trips Worth Taking
My husband Bronson and my cool grandmother indulged my fascination with polygamists this summer on an impromptu trip to Hilldale, Utah (where FLDS is headquartered).
The best part was standing in line at the grocery store with a few of the polygamist wives—their hair all doused in Aqua Net, donning the customary pastel dresses.
You don’t have to be a native to experience the polygamist lifestyle up close. Identity Tours is a Utah-based company started by two brothers, Heber and Richard, who were exiled from the FLDS in 2003 by now jailed church leader (and convicted rapist) Warren Jeffs. On the 4-hour bus tour, titled “The Polygamy Experience: A Guided Tour of Colorado City,” Richard Holm answers questions about the history and traditions of the legendary polygamist community. A company representative told me the price also “includes lunch at a cafe owned by the polygamists.”
Where: Tours depart daily from St. George, Utah. Getting there: Delta and United Express offer flights to St. George airport via Salt Lake City international. More info: http://identitytours.com/
The most ‘fabulous’ rad ride through gay L.A.
Even after living in Los Angeles for 12 years, it’s easy to forget about the rich gay & lesbian history that preexisted Stonewall. Los Angelenos (and visitors) can now re-live that history in vivid detail aboard Jim Anzide’s fabulous new Out and About Tours. The encyclopedic Anzide and his talented team will guide you on a rousing, double decker pilgrimage through the city’s lesbian nooks and gay crannies. The highlight for me was our stop at The Other Side, a historic Silverlake gay piano bar, for three impromptu performances with a live accompanist! As you head down the back streets, Out and About staffers perform dramatic re-enactments of salacious quotes and readings from LGBT history, creating a lively “living history” a la Ken Burns. A total gas.
Where: Bus embarks in West Hollywood More info: www.outandabout-tours.com and on Twitter.
She’s the sweetest new lady in town…
L.A.’s newest and most decadent delivery truck doesn’t take passengers per se, but The Sweets Truck is destined to become a destination for all Angelenos. Owned by my comrade Molly Taylor, you can choose from fancy Rice Krispie treats from Milk & Krunchies, truffles from Madame Chocolate, cookie sandwiches from Cookie Casa and a selection of fudge, candy bars, cupcakes, etc.
I really like Molly’s commitment to sustainable business practices and her plans to give back to the community, and she’s already been reviewed in Daily Candy and Sunset magazine. If you see the Sweets Truck rolling through the streets of the city, stop by and say hello!
Where: all over Los Angeles When: Daily, follow them on Twitter for schedule and daily stops. More info: http://thesweetstruck.com
