Millie's

Who doesn't love Millie's. It has been around forever! If you don't know where it is, it's on 1000 east and 2100 south. They have the best shakes this side of the Iceberg. Their English style fries are great too. Buying local is a big deal and what better place to go local than Millie's.

Leaves

Gorgeous, just gorgeous. I went on an extended walk in Sugarhouse one weekend and found this lovely bunch of leaves. I hope you like them as much as I did.

Erotic

Well, they may have gotten Blue Boutique out of that area but the erotic bakery is there to stay. I stumbled on this store in August and it is still there (2100 south and about 1050 east). I keep passing by when it is closed and being as short as I am, I can't tell what they have behind the frosted glass. I'm sure that it is very pleasurable and delectable. Someday, I'm sure I'll be able to taste the tempting treats. Until then I'll just have to fantasize about it.

Desire

I love it. This is on about 550 e and 500 s on the south side of the street.

Gilgal, part 2

More about the Gigel gardens. All around the garden are these large stones inscribed with religious quotes that Mr. Gigel found inspiring. Myself I could not bring myself to read many of these. After a few lines I got the drift. I'm not very religious, can you tell?

Family

HAHAHA! More like the making a family center. This is at the strip mall on 400 south an 600 east with the Ace hardware and Paradise Cafe (great place for lunch by the way). If you go to the far east side of the building and down the alley a bit you'll see this work of art. I've been passing by this sign for 6 months or so. Either the owners don't care or no one goes down this way. It is pretty deserted most of the time, which would make for a great place to get it on.

For rent

Are you kidding? Good credit my ass. They should be thankful to whoever decides to live here. This house is on 525 S. 500 E. and last time that I passed by it was actually rented out. I'm shocked. I bet you that the renter most likely does not have good credit. Why? Because the house is ghetto. I would not live here and my credit sucks. And even with my bad credit, I found a much nicer place to live than this.

Gilgal, part 1

This park use to be someones backyard but after much effort by a group called the "Friends of Gilgal Garden" it has been transformed into a state park. This is probably the strangest state park there is in Salt Lake. It is right next door to the Wonderbread Factory.


The statues that are though out the garden are the creation of Thomas Child. He worked on this garden from 1945 to 1963. I stumbled on the park a couple of months ago on my way to the gym and took a ridiculous amount of pictures. So, I have spit them up in 6 parts. Hope you like them.

Coffee

A good acquaintance of mine and many, many other people, has opened up his own coffee shop. It's been open for a couple of month now and seems to be doing pretty well. It has some of the best coffee I've ever tried.
And if you want to catch random people hula-hooping, you may just want to drop by on a Friday night. It is open until 12am on Friday and Saturday.
The inside is very nicely decorated. Super comfy couches in case the caffeine does not wake you up. I do think that he probably over spent on those couches but from a customers point of view it is very swank.

There is even this great space of booths. Each one has an outlet, great for laptops or other devices. It's a great set up for students. Since it is located right across the street from the community college, it was a very smart move. So, go and check the Coffee Connection out it is on 1580 S. State St.

Liberty Park

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted. Work has given me no time to play. Oh, well. Here are some pretty pictures of Liberty park. Proof that not all public parks suck. This day Liberty was looking extra nice. Enjoy.

Hooters

So, I went to the zoo and on the bus was this very lost old man. First, he wanted to go to 1500 East and South Temple. Then, he wanted to go to the 2100 south trax station. Then, he wanted to get of the bus. The bus driver was kind enough to move him off the bus and then back on the bus because he changed his mind. He decided that he really did want to go to his original destination. Upon reaching said destination he was confused and did not know if he was in the right place. The bus driver got off the bus and pointed him the right way. Wow, getting old is a very scary and sad thing but at least I know that he still loves hooters.

Hummer

I went to post this and for some reason that I can't figure out, everything that I type is underlined. Well, I guess that I'll just go with it. I took this picture because it surprised me to see a political bumper sticker used as graffiti. Unfortunatly the person that placed this propaganda placed in at a bus stop. We don't have cars. Most of us hate Hummers because we can't afford one. Oh, yeah we say that it is because of the stupidity of having a huge car for picking up groceries but really it is because I can't have one. Not that I want one, really, but that I don't even have the option to reject it. If this person really wanted to make an impact with his sticker they should have put it on an actual Hummer.

Alleys

Most houses in the SLC don't have driveways. Instead there are these back alleys that people use to get to their parking. Walking around the neighborhood by way of these is a favorite past time. The front yard of most homes is what the home owners want the world to see, but the back yards are a better picture of what their like. Also, it feels like you are being rebellious, peeking in on people's private lives. The other great thing about the alley system is that the look of the neighborhood is very clean. Just house after house.

Sunflowers

I know, I know...sunflowers are not funky or weird. But aren't they gorgeous? The sky was just so blue and the flowers just so yellow. Having grown up in LA where nature is not very prominent, things like this make Salt Lake great.

Face

This is the screaming man of 600 east. I'm sure that this was just a splatter of paint on the sidewalk but I love that it just happens to look like a man. A man with a bow tie even.

Bone hand

I've seen this bit of graffiti around town. I wonder if it is some kind of underground symbol for some secret society. The Bone Hand society. Probably not but it would be cool if it was.

Recently there has been news media attention to the "graffiti problem" in the Salt Lake valley. But it was never news worthy until it showed up in a "nicer" part of town. Now there is even a graffiti info line where you can leave tips. Whatever. Yes there is tagging in Salt Lake but really it is very little for a city this size. Also, it is bullshit that until some of the more affluent neighborhoods get tagged it is not considered a problem.

Fence

I like it.

Strippers

Ha ha ha ha ha. Love it. Strippers need our help. Those 6 inch bitch heels with the 3 inch see through platforms, don't buy themselves. I've only been to strip joints in Salt Lake so I don't know how they compare to other places. I'd think that most are about the same.

I do believe that strippers, or sorry exotic dancers, do need help in a couple of areas. First, if you are going to say that you are an exotic dancer then dance! For god sake, find the beat and follow it. Some of the women I've seen have no idea how to dance. These ladies are strippers, not dancers at all. Second, if you are going to have acrylic toe nails (which I think is gross to begin with) please have them painted. No one wants to see your toes glowing green under the black lights. Disgusting.

Elemente

Anyone interested in owning funky furniture should go here. Elemente on Peirpont Ave on about 380 West. The owners are very nice and they even have a bargain basement. Just be careful on the stairs, they are a bit scary. Otherwise this store is full of wonderful surprises. Great mid-century furniture. Myself being of the poor persuasion haven't bought much. But I'm always tempted by their amazing collection. I mean who has to eat when you could have a fabulous new sofa in the perfect olive green color.

Dog van

You just have to love creative people. This cute pup just poked his head out of nowhere. Maybe the owner really misses a beloved pet. One of those great dogs that stick their head out of car windows and let the ears fly in the wind.

Cross-eyed Slut

I just realized that my posts make me out to be a hippie. Well, fear not friends, I am no hippie. I'm eclectic is all. These pics are from a friends gig. They are Cross-eyed Slut. Named after a cross-eyed slut seen in a porn by the lead singer. Very good metal. Check them out on Myspace. Unfortunately, really life has caught up with these sluts and they have taken a hiatus from playing. Oh well, I'll just have to enjoy the pics and Cross-eyed Slut panties, until they return like a bad case of herpes.

Beehive Tea Room

This is absolutely one of my most favorite places in Salt Lake. The Beehive Tea Room, on 15 west 300 south. Just west on Main St, downtown. It has this amazing feel to it. When I'm in there it is like I'm transported to another place. The tea is great even if a bit pricey. But I don't mind. I figure it as the price I pay to be surrounded with such ambiance.
And the music that they play is great bluesy, jazzy, loungy kind of music. It's the kind of place that makes for a great end to hard work week.
I've seen the place used for bridal and baby showers. I know that if you call in advance they will prepare a whole tea service. With those great tiny sandwiches and pastries. I do wish that they stayed open just a bit longer, they close at 7pm. But even a couple of hours there makes for a great escape.

Mural

How freaking long has this mural been up? I'm in the 9th and 9th area all the time and have never noticed this. Must be because it is tucked away behind the Barbacoa. If you're just passing by, you'd never notice it. Well here it is the hidden mural.

I'm not sure how the space scene relates to the underwater mermaid. Must be for the sushi place next door. But still it's kind of a strange mix.

Lion door

How awesome is this door? It's on about 380 s and Main St. And don't let the picture fool you, this door is like 15 feet tall and very impressive. I'm not sure what it use to lead to but now a days it leads to an investment company. Not that they use these doors, on the side is a sign asking people to go to a side door instead. How boring. A door like that needs to lead into a grand mansion where the owners wear ballgowns and tuxes daily. Where even the maids and butlers look beautiful. Where people spring into song and dance at least three times a day.

Fro

If all signs looked this cool, I'd probably pay more attention to them. This fly sign happens to be on Pierpont Ave, about 250 S, between 400 w and 300 w. Go check it out. And don't miss the galleries that are right there. They are just as fly as the sign.

Gallivan Center

This is the last of the free Gallivan Center Thursday concerts. I'm so sad to say that it was the only one that I attended. Normally, I don't miss even one but this year was a bit hectic. The crowd was packed and a blast to watch. The best is to watch the dancers, festival dancers. Some of these people need new friends. Friends that actually care about them. Friends that care enough to say "Stop dancing your embarrassing everyone." I know, I know their not hurting anybody by dancing like morons. But still, some of them need to be stopped.

I wasn't crazy about the bands but they did a good job. French Kiss from New York and Calexico. Maybe, if I'd had a beer or more I would have enjoyed the show more. But being as the next day is a work day, got to be responsible.
I do hope to make it to all the shows next year. These shows are always a great reminder that Salt Lake does not suck.