Happy Thursday!

• 🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80.

Today’s newsletter is 786 words — a 3-minute read.

FanX is bringing a galaxy's worth of stars to Salt Lake this weekend, with a guest lineup that has fully escaped niche-fandom containment.

Why it matters: The appearance of more Hollywood A-listers is broadening the notion of "fandom" at FanX beyond tight-knit, sometimes-elitist communities that recite deep cuts and debate the limits of "canon."

Driving the news: This year's guests include rock star Gene Simmons, action hero Kiefer Sutherland, Jane Seymour of 1980s miniseries fame, and ubiquitous generational icons like Ann-Margret and Alec Baldwin.

Catch up quick: The guest list has grown exponentially since the first convention in 2013, when William Shatner and Stan Lee were the only truly legendary household names.

Zoom in: These days you can expect to find fans of pretty much any pop culture artifact that is broadly liked.

Yes, but: Even the megastar guests of previous years typically were celebrated for roles that generated their own intense fan cultures.

• When fans pay for a photo-op with Geena Davis, "Beetlejuice" is the likelier connection than "The Accidental Tourist," which won her an Oscar.

Between the lines: It's unclear what fictional realm Gene Simmons represents — but Kiss is nothing if not fantastical.

Who else is coming: Helen Hunt, Hayden Christensen, Molly Ringwald, Bryce Dallas Howard, Giancarlo Esposito and Mr. T. Also:

• Utah fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.
• The voice actors behind Disney princesses Ariel, Belle and Jasmine.
• Cast members from "Critical Role."

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Joel Long, a creative writing and English high school teacher, has been named Salt Lake City's first poet laureate.

The big picture: Long will serve as a cultural ambassador for the city, writing original poetry about civic life, developing programming and leading public readings in the city's seven council districts.

• He's been a prominent figure in the state's literary circles and was encouraged to apply for the new position by friends and family.

Catch up quick: The Salt Lake City Arts Council and the mayor's office began their search in April and received about 20 applications.

What they're saying: Speaking with Axios yesterday in front of his ninth grade creative writing class at Rowland Hall, where he's taught in the same classroom for the past 23 years, Long said his goal is to make poetry visible across the city.

• That means placing poetry in high-traffic areas where people wait, such as electronic billboards, parks, bus stops and grocery store checkout lines, Long says.
• While Long hasn't determined what he's going to write about yet, he aims to find the "miraculousness" in everyday life and hopes to engage with residents of all ages.
• "Being able to represent [the city] is such an honor to me, and it's a culmination of 40 years of writing," he says.

Zoom in: Long specializes in lyric poems and free verse, focusing on the rhythm and sound of each line.

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🎿 International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry is visiting Utah for the first time and meeting with state leaders in preparation for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. (FOX 13)

🏈 The United Football League is launching a Utah franchise in 2028. The team will play at American First Field, home of Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals. (Salt Lake Tribune)

🌳 Salt Lake City plans to replace by late November hundreds of trees on North Temple that were mistakenly sprayed with herbicide in 2024. (KSL)

Gramercy, an ivy-covered tea and coffee house that was once a laundromat, opened this week in Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood.

The vibe: The cafe sits inside a 1907 industrial building, warmed by exposed brick, multi-pane windows and paper lanterns. It also includes an outdoor patio.

State of play: Best friends Emerson Alvarez and McKenna Brown opened it after launching the Gramercy brand as a pop-up art market, which was intended to bring creative minds together.

• A monthlong Kickstarter campaign that started in May raised over $24,000 to cover the first few months of wages and buildout costs.

What I tried: Gramercy's earthy matcha latte took me back to my trip to Tokyo last year.

• I paired it with their hearty Spam onigiri. The onigiri are made by Mr. Rice Asian Bistro at the Chinatown Supermarket.

What's next: Brown tells Axios she envisions the business opening late on Fridays and Saturdays in the future to offer locals a late-night spot to gather.

Tell a foodie

🫆 Erin is rewatching "Mindhunter," and is once again disappointed this fantastic show didn't get a third season.

📺 Kim also shares Erin's frustration, as a David Fincher fan.

This newsletter was edited by Astrid Galván.